Oct. 30, 2008
• Intermat/NWCA Div. I Preseason Rankings
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Three Navy wrestlers, including 133-pound All-American Joe Baker (Poway, Calif.), are ranked among the top 20 in three preseason polls heading into the 2008-09 campaign. Meanwhile, Navy, as a team will begin the season as the 21st-ranked team according to the Intermat/National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Div. I Preseason Poll.
Ninth-year Navy head coach Bruce Burnett will field one of the youngest teams in recent memory with four of its starters out of the freshman class. As talented as that class may be, he will ask his veteran members to step up and pave the way this season. Burnett will look to his senior class to provide that leadership with Baker the most accomplished out of the group.
Coming off a memorable season that featured a 28-13 record, Baker returns for his senior season after capturing eighth place at the 2008 NCAA Championship and receiving All-America recognition for the first time in his career. He has the opportunity to become only the fifth wrestler in program history to make a fourth NCAA Championship appearance should he qualify this season.
Baker made an incredible run at the end of last year, winning 11 of his final 14 matches that included title wins at the All-Academy Championship, as well as his first EIWA Championship crown. Along the way, he earned a 10-5 win over Army's Whitt Dunning to lead the Mids to their eighth consecutive win against their arch rivals. He entered the EIWA Championship as the No. 4 seed and upset top-seeded and No. 2-ranked Mike Grey, 5-4, in the semifinals. He then defeated 18th-ranked and third-seeded David Marble in the championship bout, 5-4. He took an eight-match winning streak into the National Championship where he won his first two bouts of the tournament, including a 3-1 decision over No. 6-ranked Lou Ruggirello of Hofstra. Ranked in No. 6 by Intermat/NWCA No. 7 by W.I.N. Magazine and No. 8 by Amateur Wrestling News, he heads into his final year boasting a 61-28 career record, including a 17-8 dual meet mark.
One of the most successful freshman wrestlers in program history, Bryce Saddoris (Spring Creek, Nev.) turned in a 35-12 record in his rookie campaign, becoming only the third wrestler in school history to win 30 matches as a freshman. His 35 wins are the second most by a Navy rookie, while setting a Midshipman record for most single-season wins at 149 pounds. Additionally, he is tied for 12th on the Mids' single-season wins list.
In his first season, Saddoris placed in six of the eight tournaments in which he competed - third at Eastern Michigan Open, third at Navy Classic, third at Reno Tournament of Champions, seventh at Southern Scuffle, first at All-Academy Championship and third at EIWA Championship. Additionally, he posted a 4-2 record in dual action, including a 7-3 victory over Maryland's Eric Medina in his first collegiate dual. He also pinned (2:21) Army's Thome in the annual Star Match to give the Mids the lead for good and guide Navy to its eighth straight win over the Black Knights. He posted a 5-1 record in his first EIWA Championship appearance, where he placed third and earned an NCAA Championship berth. Though he dropped both matches in his first NCAA Championship appearance, the opportunity to wrestle at that level will prove to be an invaluable experience.
Saddoris looked particularly strong a week ago when he earned a 14-3 major decision over teammate Kyle O'Neill (Gaylord, Mich.) at the annual Blue-Gold Challenge Matches. He stands 18th in the Intermat/NWCA rankings, while he is 20th according to W.I.N. Magazine.
The final Midshipman named in the preseason rankings might be the mightiest of them all. Yes, he is Navy's starting heavyweight, however, team captain Scott Steele's (Baltimore, Md.) accomplishments over the last year have not only been lofty, but have paid dividends already.
Last season he turned in an impressive 20-4 record as the backup to All-American Ed Prendergast. Winning 15 of his first 16 matches, including each of his first 10, he won tournament crowns at the Eastern Michigan Open and the Navy Classic by beating Prendergast in the title bout. He went on to place second at the Southern Scuffle and fourth at the Reno Tournament of Champions. He owns a 48-16 record over his career, topping 20 wins in each of the last two seasons.
In mid-April, he put together a 5-2 record to finish seventh in the 120 kg weight class at the 2008 U.S. Freestyle National Championship qualifying him for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He placed third at the Olympic Trials and was named to the U.S. Freestyle National Team. As a national team member, he was required to report to training camp in July where he served as Olympian Steve Mocco's training partner. Later in the month, he was invited by head coach Kevin Jackson to accompany Team USA to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics as Mocco's sparring partner and the alternate at 120 kg.
While Steele did receive recognition by the pollsters early on last year, his accomplishments over the summer have certainly brought him the attention the deserves. All three polls have him ranked in the top six, including Amateur Wrestling News who has tagged him as the No. 4 heavyweight wrestler in the country.
The following is a list of the preseason rankings and where Navy's wrestlers are ranked heading into the 2008-09 campaign. Navy opens its season on Saturday when it makes the trek to Ypsilanti, Mich. to take part in the Eastern Michigan Open where last year four Midshipmen placed second in their respective weight classes and Steele was crowned the heavyweight champion.
133 - Joe Baker
Media Outlet Preseason Favorite Baker Rk.
InterMat/NWCA Slayton - Iowa 6th
Amateur Wrestling News Slayton - Iowa 8th
W.I.N. Magazine Slayton - Iowa 7th
149 - Bryce Saddoris
Media Outlet Preseason Favorite Saddoris Rk.
InterMat/NWCA Metcalf - Iowa 18th
Amateur Wrestling News Metcalf - Iowa NA
W.I.N. Magazine Metcalf - Iowa 20th
Heavyweight - Scott Steele
Media Outlet Preseason Favorite Steele Rk.
InterMat/NWCA Rosholt - Oklahoma St. 5th
Amateur Wrestling News Rosholt - Oklahoma St. 4th
W.I.N. Magazine Rosholt - Oklahoma St. 6th
### Go Navy ###
