Feb. 18, 2010

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy wrestling team will close out its regular-season ledger with the annual Star Match against arch rival Army on Saturday evening. The Midshipmen will look to capture their 10th consecutive win over the Black Knights when the two programs square off at Alumni Hall beginning at 7:00 pm. Additionally, members of Navy's senior class and their families will be recognized in a prematch ceremony, while former Navy head coach Reg Wicks will be honored for his service to the Academy.

Fans unable to attend Saturday's match can follow the action by logging on to Navy All-Access (subscription based) via the internet at www.NavySports.com(.) The live video feed will not feature any commentary, however it will be patched in to the public address announcer.

The Midshipmen, who enter the weekend with a 5-2 dual record, have faced their share of highs this season, like knocking off seventh-ranked Maryland, while coping with the lows, such as the multiple injuries that have hampered the Mids throughout the year. Between injuries and the graduation of a number of wrestlers a year ago, Navy will field a lineup that does not have a great deal of experience in what is its most important dual of the year.

"I would say it's certainly not the lineup that we had expected to wrestle when we began the year," said 10th-year Navy head coach Bruce Burnett, who owns a 9-0 record against the Black Knights. "But, I've said this before, we will play the hand we are dealt. Our wrestlers don't need any extra incentive for this match. They understand the importance ... the magnitude of this match. There's not a lot of talking going on in the wrestling room right now, it's just getting prepared to wrestle and at this point it's about execution. We are prepared for what I really feel is going to be a great battle."

Truth be told, just three Navy wrestlers have experience in the annual competition that has long been dominated by the Midshipmen. One of those three is junior All-American Bryce Saddoris (Spring Creek, Nev.), who is 1-1 against the Black Knights. Saddoris pinned Army's Casey Thome his freshman year but was defeated, 2-1, in a tie breaker a year ago by Matt Kyler. Ranked seventh nationally and eighth in the NCAA Div I wrestling coaches panel rankings, Saddoris has bumped up a weight this season (157) and has flourished. Posting a 104-29 record over three seasons, he is ranked 10th on the Mids' career wins list. He has produced a 26-9 record this season, including a 5-1 dual mark.

Senior 141-pound Matt Pagan (Carteret, N.J.) heads into Saturday's bout having earned a win over Army's Casey Thome a year ago, as Thome was forced to bow out with an injury. Pagan and Thome have sparred a handful of times over the last few seasons and Saturday's match will by one to watch. This season has ben Pagan's best on the mat, producing a 20-14 record, including a 3-3 mark in dual action. Thome, however, is ranked 30th in the most recent NCAA Div I wrestling coaches panel rankings and boasts a 23-5 record.

Senior heavyweight Scott Steele (Towson, Md.) will take part in not only his first Army-Navy competition, but his first match against an Army opponent during his entire career. After missing all of the second half of last season and the first semester of this season, Steele has amassed a 12-2 record, including a 6-1 mark in dual action. Ranked ninth in the country and in the NCAA Div I wrestling coaches panel rankings, Steele's match on Saturday night will mark his 100th collegiate bout as he wrestles his final match in front of the home crowd.

Three additional Navy wrestlers who are ranked among the NCAA Div I wrestling coaches panel rankings including 125-pound Aaron Kalil (Salem, N.H.), who has enjoyed a breakout season. He has produced a 19-9 record, including a 5-2 mark in dual competition in just his second season and is 27th according the the panel rankings.

Meanwhile team captain will Glenn Shober (Reading, Pa.) will have his hands full when he faces Matt Kyler at 149 pounds. Kyler stands eighth in the nation and has lost just twice this season. Shober has recorded an 18-12 record this winter and is 32nd in the panel rankings.

Winning five of his seven duals this season is junior 165-pounder Robby Neill (Brick, N.J.), who is 27th in the panel rankings. He has recorded a 20-11 record in 2009-10 and is just two weeks removed from knocking off Vincent Renaut to win the All-Academy Championship.

Navy owns a 43-5-5 series advantage, including a 24-1-2 record in matches staged in Annapolis. Army's only win against the Mids on their home floor was a 15-14 decision on Feb. 25, 1961. Unbeaten during Burnett's 10-year tenure, the Midshipmen have suffered just one setback (1997) to Army in the last 47 matches, as Navy owns a 41-1-5 record during that span.

"Tradition is important, but along with that comes the expectations that you need to meet," said Burnett regarding Navy's dominance in the series. "We've used the last two weeks to prepare. Now it's time to execute."

While wrestling is one of three Army-Navy competitions slated for Saturday, the Navy women's basketball team will look for a sweep against the Army women when the two meet at 11:00 am, followed by a nationally-televised contest (CBS College Sports) between the men's programs at 2:00 pm.

Navy leads the annual Army-Navy series this season with a 10-4 (.714) record, while also holding a 7-4 (.636) advantage in Star competitions. The following teams have the distinction of winning N-Stars for the Midshipmen this year (in chronological order) -- men's soccer, women's soccer, men's cross country, spring football, volleyball, women's swimming, men's swimming and football.

Fans are reminded that only cars with a Department of Defense sticker are allowed onto the Naval Academy grounds. Fans are encouraged to park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium where there will be a free shuttle that will travel back and forth between the stadium and the Naval Academy. There is, however, a $5 fee to park at the stadium.

Tentative Lineups
Wt. Army                                                      Navy
125    Lance Penhale (Sr., 23-9) or Ryan Renkey (Fr., 12-10)      Aaron Kalil (So., 19-9) or Allan Stein (Jr., 9-7)
133    Travis Coffey (So., 18-8) or Connor Hanafee (Fr., 7-3)     Ben Levin (Fr., 10-7), Jared Anongos (Fr., 10-7) or Pat McCaffrey (So., 14-12)
141    Casey Thome (Jr., 23-5)                                    Matt Pagan (Sr., 20-14) or Dustin Haislip (So., 6-5)
149    #8 Matt Kyler (Sr., 27-2) or Jimmy Rafferty (So., 19-9)    Glenn Shober (Sr., 18-12) or John Majka (So., 7-6)
157    Daniel Young (Fr., 15-9) or Rudy Chelednik (Jr., 15-16)    #7 Bryce Saddoris (Jr., 26-9) or Bobby Barnhisel (Fr., 8-3)
165    Patrick Marchetti (Fr., 11-13), Eric Gobin (Fr., 9-13)     Robby Neill (Jr., 20-11) or Mason Bailey (Fr., 11-6)
174    Ryan Mergen (Sr., 17-7) or Jacob Vetter (Jr., 13-9)        Mike Billings (Sr., 14-10)
184    Collin Wittmeyer (Fr., 20-12)                              Andrew Buck (Fr., 17-7) or Greg Prioleau (Jr., 3-7)
197    #16 Richard Starks (Sr., 21-1) or Orion Ross (So., 0-1)    Russ Kropp (Sr., 3-4) or Chance Rauscher (Fr., 5-5)
285    Christian Botero (Fr., 6-11)                               #9 Scott Steele (Sr., 12-2) or Dan Miller (Fr., 7-6)