Oct. 28, 2005
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy wrestling team will hold its only exhibition match of the season on Saturday with the annual Blue-Gold Challenge Matches, being held at 1:00 p.m., in Halsey Field House. The Mids are coming off a 12-3 overall record and a third-place EIWA Tournament finish, and return six starters from last year's squad. Head Coach Bruce Burnett is very excited to get the season underway.
"This is an important event for us," said Burnett, who enters his sixth season with 53-26 record at Navy. "It sets the stage for the entire year. The reality is that it is the first opportunity to step on a mat this year and compete in front of people. There should be several great matches and every weight will be competitive."
Leading the Blue team will be 125-pounder Alex Usztics (Dauphin, Pa.), 149-pounder John Cox (Grand Haven, Mich.) and 165-pounder Craig Dziewiatkowski (Aurora, Ill.). Both Cox and Dziewiatkowski were NCAA Qualifiers a year ago. For the Gold team, heavyweight Tanner Garrett (Tulsa, Okla.), 174-pounder Matt Stolpinski (Westfield, Mass.) and 184-pounder Jonny Kane (Portland, Maine) will lead the charge. Garrett is a two-time NCAA Qualifier and is ranked No. 8 in the preseason polls.
"I'm sure it's a little nerve-wracking to be wrestling a teammate, but once the matches start, those nerves should go away," said Burnett. "It will be a good opportunity for our fans to see the progress we have made in the wrestling room. We are very excited to get going."
Following this weekend's Blue-Gold matches, Navy will compete in the Eastern Michigan Open on Nov. 5, in Ypsilanti, Mich., for its season-opening tournament.
BLUE-GOLD MATCHES:
125 Blue - Alex Usztics • Jr. • Dauphin, Pa.
Gold - Caleb Levee • Fr. • Mandeville, La.
133 Blue - Branden Beasley • So. • Alexandria, Va.
Gold - Brad Canterbury • Jr. • Blue Bell, Pa.
141 Blue - Spencer Manley • So. • Ooltewah, Tenn.
Gold - Ricky Tippett • Fr. • White Marsh, Md.
149 Blue - John Cox • So. • Grand Haven, Mich.
Gold - Matt Gulosh • Sr. • Stow, Ohio
157 Blue - Adam Brochetti • Sr. • Kittanning, Pa.
Gold - Justin Jacobs • So. • LeRoy, Mich.
165 Blue - Craig Dziewiatkowski • Sr. • Aurora, Ill.
Gold - Robert Johnston • So. • Satellite Beach, Fla.
174 Blue - Jesse Feinsod • Fr. • Colorado Springs, Colo.
Gold - Matt Stolpinski • So. • Westfield, Mass.
184 Blue - Chris Pogue • Sr. • Chesapeake, Va.
Gold - Jonny Kane • Sr. • Portland, Maine
197 Blue - Tyler Moyer • Fr. • Bremerton, Wash.
Gold - Andrew Adams • Sr. • Dublin, Ohio
HWT Blue - Ed Prendergast • So. • St. Louis, Mo.
Gold - Tanner Garrett • Sr. • Tulsa, Okla.
# GO NAVY #
