Dec. 21, 2008
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy's Luke Rebertus (Elkton, Md.) and Bryce Saddoris (Spring Creek, Nev.) have been named co-EIWA Wrestlers of the Week, following their performance at the Reno Tournament of Champions last Thursday, where the two Midshipmen won individual honors at the event.
Rebertus, who claimed his second tournament title this season, turned in a 5-0 record in Reno en route to taking the 174-pound crown. He defeated former Navy wrestler Jesse Feinsod, now representing New Mexico Highlands, 9-7, followed by a 5-2 decision over 18th-ranked Shane Onufer of Wyoming to advance to the championship round. He capped off a successful weekend of action by posting a 6-2 decision over Nebraska-Kearney's Kamarudeen Usman to win the title. Rebertus, ranked fourth in the EIWA, boasts a 19-3 record, and has placed in the top four in all four of the tournaments in which he has competed.
Saddoris, one of two returning NCAA qualifiers for the Midshipmen, won five bouts at 149 pounds en route to winning his third individual crown of the 2008-09 campaign. Along the way, he defeated Luke Silver of Oklahoma State, 2-0, while edging 15th-ranked Torsten Gillespie of Edinboro, 2-1, to reach the final round. He produced a 7-4 decision over North Carolina's Nick Stabile in the championship bout to improve to an impressive 20-1 on the season.
Saddoris, who has produced a 55-13 career record, is well on his way to smashing Navy's record for wins over a wrestler's first two seasons combined. All-American Greg Gingeleskie (1996-97) holds the record, winning 59 matches in his first two seasons wearing a Navy blue and gold uniform. Three-time All-American John Reich claimed 58 wins in 1980 and '81, while the Mids' all-time winningest wrestler Matt Stolpinski turned in 55 wins in his first two seasons (2005, '06).
The Midshipmen will enjoy a short holiday break before returning to action Dec. 29-30 when they head to Greensboro, N.C. for the annual Southern Scuffle. Last year, five Midshipmen placed, while the team finished ninth at the two-day, 28-team tournament.
### Go Navy ###
