Nov. 20, 2008

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy wrestling team will open the home portion of its 2008-09 schedule on Saturday when it plays host to the annual Navy Classic at Halsey Field House beginning at 9:00 am. Having won the team title in 15 of the 30 years the tournament has been held, the Mids will battle 13 teams -- Bucknell, Campbell, The Citadel, Delaware State, Duke, Duquesne, Franklin & Marshall, Gardner-Webb, George Mason, UNC Greensboro, Virginia Tech and West Virginia -- for the 2008 Navy Classic crown.

"We are excited to be back home and wrestle in front of a Navy crowd," said ninth-year Navy head coach Bruce Burnett. "Some of our guys competed at West Virginia last weekend, but for the most part we've practiced hard for the last two weeks. It's time to get out and test the system, see what we've improved upon since we were last in competition.

"We have so many young competitors that I'm anxious to be able to see all of them in action. Sometimes it's difficult to evaluate everyone when you are limited to 10 wrestlers in a dual. In a tournament like this, however, we'll be able to see several guys and evaluate their progress. I'm just as anxious to see our more experienced wrestlers being challenged. That's a big part of their growth.

While defending team champion Bloomsburg will not defend its title on Saturday, Bucknell is among the lineup and will push the Mids for the title. A year ago the Bison finished just eight points behind Navy in third. Meanwhile, new to the Classic lineup this season are The Citadel, Duke, Gardner-Webb, UNC Greensboro and Virginia Tech.

"I feel it's good to get a wide variety of teams to take part in our tournament," added Burnett. "Different teams offer different styles of wrestling and provide a different element we may face down the road. Overall, there's a good mix of competition among this year's field."

Among the field, there are nine ranked wrestlers, including two each at 133, 149 and 165 pounds. Meanwhile, there are 21 returning placewinners from last year's Navy Classic, including defending champions David Marble (133) and Andrew Rendos (165) from Bucknell, Cayle Byers (197) from George Mason and Scott Steele (Baltimore, Md.) (HWT) from Navy.

Steele, who is ranked fifth nationally and serves as Navy's team captain, is off to a 7-0 start, including a 3-0 dual meet mark. The U.S. Freestyle National Team member opened the season by taking the Eastern Michigan Open heavyweight title for a second consecutive year and is looking to win two in a row at the Navy Classic. A year ago, Steele took down his All-American teammate Ed Prendergast in overtime to win the Classic crown.

Though Steele is the lone returning title winner for the Mids, four others placed among the top three including returning All-American Joe Baker (Poway, Calif). Baker could find himself in a rematch of last year's 133-pound title bout, as Bucknell's David Marble returns for his junior campaign and as the defending champion after beating Baker, 8-5. This will be the first action of the year for Baker, who has been sidelined with an injury. Upon completion of Saturday's tournament, the three-time NCAA qualifier will travel to Columbus, Ohio where he will take part in the NWCA All-Star Classic.

Senior Joel Ahern (Herkimer, N.Y.) also placed second at last year's Navy Classic, dropping a 10-3 decision to Bloomsburg's Mat Moley at 157 pounds. Ahern owns a 7-2 record, including a 5-2 mark at the Eastern Michigan Open where he placed fifth.

Bryce Saddoris (Spring Creek, Nev.) and Glenn Shober (Reading, Pa.) both captured third place in their respective weight classes a year ago. Saddoris edged Bucknell's Kevin LeValley in the 149-pound third-place bout, 5-3. Ironically, it was LeValley who originally sent Saddoris to the consolation bracket after being the then-Navy freshman, 9-0 in the quarterfinals. Saddoris has gotten off to a spectacular start, boasting a 7-0 record. He swept his four competitors en route to taking the Eastern Michigan Open title and has won five of his seven matches, including four in a row by major decision.

Shober, meanwhile, took third at 141 pounds, but has pushed up to 157 pounds this season. Shober dropped an 8-1 decision in the semis to eventual champion Steve Adamscik of Rutgers, but bounced back by pinning Liberty's Tim Harner. The weight gain has appeared to agree with Shober as he heads into the weekend with a 7-3 record that features a title win at last weekend's West Virginia Open. He placed sixth at the season-opening Eastern Michigan Open.

Also returning to the mat are junior Matt Pagan (Carteret, N.J.) who finished fourth at 133 pounds a year ago, but will compete at 141 pounds, and seniors Jason Coyne (Trafford, Pa.) and Casey Caldwell (Liberty, Ind.) who also placed fourth at 165 and 184 pounds, respectively.

2008 Navy Classic

Date: Saturday, Nov. 22

Venue: Halsey Field House

Projected session times:
9:00 am - preliminary rounds
3:30 pm - semifinals
5:30 pm - finals

Tickets: $6 adults, $3 students (high school and under)

Access to the Yard: As a reminder, cars that do not have a DoD (Department of Defense) sticker are not allowed access to the grounds of the Naval Academy. Fans are encouraged to park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium ($5 charge) and take the free shuttle over to Halsey Field House. Fans may also walk onto the grounds with a valid photo ID.

Participating teams: Bucknell, Campbell, The Citadel, Delaware State, Duke, Duquesne, Franklin & Marshall, Gardner-Webb, George Mason, Navy, UNC Greensboro, Virginia Tech, West Virginia

Participating ranked wrestlers:
• 133 - No. 6 Joe Baker, Navy and No. 14 Dave Marble, Bucknell;
• 149 - No. 10 Bryce Saddoris, Navy and No. 13 Matt Cathell, Delaware State;
• 165 - No. 14 Andy Rendos, Bucknell; No. 19 Chris Bullins, UNC Greensboro
• 184 - No. 19 John Barone, Duke;
• 197 - No. 11 Cayle Byers, George Mason;
• HWT - No. 5 Scott Steele, Navy

Returning placewinners from the 2007 Navy Classic:
• 125 - Jose Matos (Bucknell, 6th)
• 133 - David Marble (Bucknell, Champion); Joe Baker (Navy, 2nd)
• 141 - Matt Pagan (Navy, 4th at 133)
• 149 - Bryce Saddoris (Navy, 3rd); Kevin LeValley (Bucknell, 4th)
• 157 - Joel Ahern (Navy, 2nd); Frankie McLaughlin (George Mason, 3rd); Ryan Ochalek (Bucknell, 4th); Glenn Shober (Navy, 3rd at 141)
• 165 - Andrew Rendos (Bucknell, Champion); Jason Coyne (Navy, 4th); Anthony Bongarzone (Franklin & Marshall, 6th at 157)
• 174 - Justin Herbert (Franklin & Marshall, 3rd); Shane Riccio (Bucknell, 4th)
• 184 - David Thompson (Bucknell, 3rd); Casey Caldwell (Navy, 4th); Rob Waltko (Bucknell, 5th at 174)
• 197 - Cayle Byers (George Mason, Champion)
• HWT - Scott Steele (Navy, Champion); Nico Somers (Franklin & Marshall, 6th)

### Go Navy ###