ALL-AMERICAN DREAM r2014 NCAA Championships Preview
ENRICO CABREDO
NCAAs Page 2
March 13, 2014
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Head coach Scott Goodale said the expectations for the four qualifiers is to reach the podium to be crowned All-Americans at the NCAA Championships next week. ENRICO CABRERDO
RU hopes to end All-American slump By Tyler Karalewich Associate Sports Editor
With the NCAA Championships set to begin a week from today, the Rutgers wrestling team will send four wrestlers to have a chance at becoming All-Americans. Prior to their performance at the EIWA Championships, arguably only sophomore heavyweight Billy Smith was thought to be a lock to qualify. Head coach Scott Goodale knew that good performances would be needed all around to make the season a success at the NCAAs. “We didn’t do enough during the course of the year to put ourselves in a position individually to get an allocation at each weight class for some of us,” Goodale said prior to the EIWAs. “So we need to wrestle our tails off to get to the national tournament. Other than Billy [Smith], for the most part, we are fighting for our lives.” After three top-three finishes, the Scarlet Knights were able to manage more than what was expected. A successful first day at the EIWAs, advancing three wrestlers to the semifinals and keeping three Knights alive in the consola-
tion bracket gave Goodale reason for optimism. “We’re scoring a lot of bonus points — probably the most falls you’ve seen all year,” Goodale said. “There’s not much more we could’ve asked for on day one. Just got to back it up and advance guys to the national tournament.” The second day may not have gone as expected with freshman Tyson Dipper y, senior Vinnie Dellefave and junior Nick Visicaro failing to punch their tickets with automatic qualifications at 141 pounds, 133 pounds and 165 pounds, respectively. The three had to rely on at-large selections in order to continue their seasons, with only Dellefave earning his way to the NCAAs. Goodale was satisfied with the weekend as a whole. “We really battled all the way through. We wrestled really well this weekend,” Goodale said. “But I’m really proud of our guys and staff doing a good job preparing more importantly.” Although the weekend was successful, Rutgers is not done yet. Sophomores heavyweight Billy Smith, 149-pounder Ken Theobold, 157-pounder Anthony Perrotti and
Dellefave all earned spots. While some spots were easier to earn for others, it speaks to Rutgers’ ability to outperform its critics, who may have predicted less of the group. “It’s awesome that this many guys qualified. I think ever yone only thought Billy would qualify, but we stepped up,” Perrotti said. “Me and Kenny stepped up and Dellefave grabbed the wildcard. It’s awesome, man, it’s a great ending to a year with a lot of ups and downs.” The expectations remain the same as the goal that the team had at the beginning of the season. Goodale stressed the importance of having the qualified Knights make the podium as All-Americans and what he anticipates is simple. “Now that we know who is going the expectations are to go there and place,” Goodale said. “We have to go there and win matches and become All-Americans.” For updates on the Rutgers wrestling team, follow Tyler Karalewich on Twitter @TylerKaralewich. For general Rutgers sports updates, follow @TargumSports.
GRAPHIC BY ALEXANDRA R. MEIER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
GRAPHIC BY ADAM ISMAIL
March 13, 2014
NCAAs Page 3
Sophomore Anthony Perrotti placed third at the EIWA Championships this past weekend at 157 pounds. Perrotti finished the season with an 18-12 record, which earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships with his finish at the conference tournament. ENRICO CABREDO
Sophomore uses confidence as catalyst for podium aspirations By Tyler Karalewich Associate Sports Editor
Way back at the beginning of the season, only one person could have truly believed that sophomore Anthony Perrotti would place in the top three at 157 pounds in the EIWA Championships. That same person might have been one of the only people to think Perrotti would qualify for the NCAA Championships towards the end of March. It is now less than a week away from the tournament and Perrotti was the one most confident in himself. “I feel like I can beat anyone in the countr y,” Perrotti said prior to Feb. 8’s match against Lehigh. “Preparation and mindset is the most important thing.” After finishing the season 1310, that comment might have been an afterthought entering the EIWA Championships, but Perrotti’s confidence never faltered. Perrotti knew he would not receive an at-large selection to qualify for NCAAs after an average finish to the season. The eight seed needed to place at least fifth for a chance to con-
tinue his season. After finishing 2-1 on Day 1, Perrotti needed two victories to keep his postseason alive Sunday during the second day of competition.
“He has laser-beam focus right now, and for the past two weeks, that has been the difference. ” Scott goodale Head Coach
A win by fall in his first bout, followed by an injur y default, sealed his fate, giving him at least a bid to the NCAAs. A third-place finish was on Perrotti’s mind entering his bout with Cornell’s second-seeded Brian Realbuto. Perrotti scored a reversal and gained a near fall with three seconds remaining in the bout to avoid extra time and sudden victor y, sealing his tournament fate
with an 11-7 decision. The Roseland, N.J., native rose to his feet, raised his hand and made sure to salute the hundreds of Big Red fans in attendance. “I had an up and down season losing to all these good kids. But it’s my time now,” Perrotti said following his third-place finish. “I want to get on top and carr y this momentum. Most importantly, bring back an All-American to Rutgers — that’s the goal.” The confidence Perrotti holds is his strongest asset right now, according to head coach Scott Goodale. “Confidence is the biggest thing. When you are wrestling at this tournament you throw out a lot of things, but it’s about being confident and believing in yourself and he does that, which makes him ver y dangerous,” Goodale said. “If you could have a characteristic as a wrestler right now, confidence would be it. He’s a ver y tough out and I wouldn’t want to wrestle him in the first round and he has a great opportunity because he believes.” The opportunity for Perrotti to do well and become an All-American is because of his mindset,
Goodale said. Changes in his approach have made a goal that seemed unattainable come within reach. “He has laser-beam focus right now, and for the past two weeks, that has been the dif ference,” Goodale said. “He realized now he needs to buy in and he has bought in. He will buy in for the next week and believe he can beat anyone.” Assistant coach Frank Molinaro, who works with Per-
rotti as m u c h as any Knight, believes Perrotti has a good shot to go far in the tournament. Being a four-time All-American and national champion, Molinaro sees an opportunity for success in Perrotti. “I think having confidence is the key. He wants to win right now and that’s the biggest difference,” Molinaro said. “When it comes down to it, it’s, ‘how bad do you want it? How bad do you want to be an All-American and how bad do you want to make it to nationals?’ I think he proved that at the EIWAs how bad he wants it.” For updates on the Rutgers wrestling team, follow Tyler Karalewich on Twitter @TylerKaralewich. For general Rutgers sports updates, follow @ TargumSports.
NCAAs Page 4
March 13, 2014
THE ROAD TO
Smith finished second at EIWA Championships, automatically qualifying for NCAA Championships
Sophomore heavyweight Billy Smith was the runner-up this past weekend at 285 pounds at the EIWA Championships. Smith compiled a 25-6 (13-2) record entering the NCAA Championships next weekend. Smith went 3-1 during last weekend’s conference championships. ENRICO CABREDO
By Tyler Karalewich Associate Sports Editor
After the first day of the 2014 EIWA Championships, the road to the NCAAs was paved with a No. 1 spot on the podium for sophomore heavyweight Billy Smith. After handily winning two bouts Saturday — gaining bonus points by a pin and a major decision — Smith eyed a successful second day. After running to the cooler full of drinks in the media room at The Palestra, exclaiming how excited he was to drink a soda, Smith expressed his confidence entering the second day. “Coach [John] Leo[nardis] has me pretty pumped for this tournament. Everything he is preaching I think I’m doing correctly. That last win was pretty big,” Smith said after Saturday’s competition. “I lost to [Steven Graziano] last year, and to come out and just dominate him was pretty special. But I’m not done. I have a long way to go and have to finish it off right with one more good day.” The tournament did not go as expected for Smith on the second day. After escaping the semifinal match with a 2-1 decision over American’s Blake Herrin, Smith wrestled Bucknell’s Joe Stolfi for the Championship at 285 pounds. Smith and Stolfi exchanged takedowns and escapes to trade the match lead six times before they parted ways. Stolfi got the better hand, taking the decision, 9-7, with a riding time bonus. Smith’s decision was inadequate not only for the Wantage,
N.J., native, but also for head coach Scott Goodale. “It’s disappointing because he gave up some positions way too easy. A high-paced match really benefited that kid,” Goodale said. “Not that [Billy] is not in shape, but he needs to be more solid rolling around. That’s disappointing.” Finishing as the runner up is not all that poor of a finish for Smith, although he wanted more knowing he would be an NCAA Qualifier before his final bout. “Obviously second place wasn’t what we were shooting for, but he and I have spoken and this weekend coming up was what we were ultimately preparing for,” said assistant coach John Leonardis. “If he fell short of that EIWA Championship, but becomes an All-American, then he won’t feel too bad about that. We have to prepare as if we won or lost, it doesn’t really matter at this point.” But for Goodale, there have been positive changes from when Smith qualified a season ago. “He’s just a different kid — a whole different kid,” Goodale said. “He has a whole different mindset. He’s got to continue to carry that forward.” Entering the NCAA Tournament, Leonardis, who works with the higher weight classes including heavyweight, is confident in Smith’s chances. “I thought he did a nice job throughout the course of the tournament, especially wrestling guys he had never faced before. He has really become a student of the sport and has developed his
Assistant coach John Leonardis said Smith was disappointed with finishing in second place at the EIWA Championships, but it will not matter if he is crowned an All-American. ENRICO CABREDO skills to make him the best he can be,” Leonardis said. “He is beginning to realize that his offense is his biggest asset, and the more he focuses on his offense, the better chance he has at winning.” Goodale believes the challenges will only become more difficult for Smith in Oklahoma because of the depth at the 285-pound weight class. “The heavyweight weight class, for the first time in a long time, may be the best weight in the country,” Goodale said. “He
has to be prepared to wrestle seven minutes unbelievably hard. The best guys in the country are going to wrestle him hard and wrestle him back. It’s not going to be a boring match.” With the weight class as highly touted as it is, Smith will need to bring forth his best performance. His best wrestling is still to come, though, according to Leonardis. “I think the 33-man bracket is going to be grueling, but we have prepared for that. He’s only going
to face each guy one at a time,” Leonardis said. “Last season he didn’t finish as strong as he did throughout the course of the year. This year, he has done a lot of extra work and has gone above and beyond. He is trying to develop his skills to make him the best he can be.” For updates on the Rutgers wrestling team, follow Tyler Karalewich on Twitter @TylerKaralewich. For general Rutgers sports updates, follow @TargumSports.
March 13, 2014
THE PODIUM
NCAAs Page 5
Theobold went 4-1 at EIWA Championships en route to third-place finish at 149 pounds
Sophomore Ken Theobold placed third at the EIWA Championships this past weekend after going 4-1. Theobold has a 22-12 record entering the NCAA Championships next week. Theobold recorded two wins by fall during last weekend’s conference tournament. ENRICO CABREDO
By Tyler Karalewich
Theobold third place at 149 pounds in the tournament. After a productive conference Things looked easy for soph- tournament and a strong finish to omore Ken Theobold on the the end the season, things are gofirst day of competition at the ing according to plan for the Toms River, N.J., native. EIWA Championships. “I had a really good perforThe 149-pounder only wrestled for a little more than four and mance this weekend. I’ve been a half minutes on his way to the training to peak at the right time,” semifinals, following two first- Theobold said. “I am peaking at the right time, which is now. I’m round wins by fall. Following the easy first day, excited to have the chance to go Theobold exclaimed how nice the to nationals.” Head coach Scott Goodale reitfacilities were inside the media room at The Palestra before offer- erated those same sentiments. After finishing how pleased ing the season he was with his strong, Theoperformance on “Kenny is definitely bold will be a the first day. tough wrestler “I’m feeling one of the hardest draw in the good. I’m just workers we have in our to NCAA tournareally positive about today,” program. ... He has gotten ment, Goodale said. Theobold said. better every week.” “He’s just “I haven’t wrespeaking at the tled Princeton’s FRANK MOLINARO right time. He’s [Richard Krop] Assistant Coach confident in before, but I himself that he knew he was can beat anya tough kid body and really, bumping up from 141 to 149. I just wanted to truly believes that,” Goodale said. “He’s peaking and wrestling realgo out there and wrestle hard.” The second day for the semi- ly well.” The oppor tunity to make it finalist did not go as planned. Theobold dropped a 3-1 decision to the tournament is a testaagainst top-seeded Christopher ment to all the hard work Theobold has put in during the regVillalonga of Cornell. Still searching for one win to ular season in preparation for become an NCAA Qualifier, Theo- the postseason. “Kenny is definitely one of bold rebounded from his loss earlier in the day with a commanding our hardest workers we have 9-1 decision following three take- in our program,” said assistant coach Frank Molinaro. “He had downs and a near fall. After an impressive a slow start this season, but he win, an injur y default gave has gotten better ever y week. I Associate Sports Editor
Assistant coach and four-time All-American Frank Molinaro said that sophomore Ken Theobold is capable of becoming an All-American at 149 pounds next week. ENRICO CABREDO think he is already better than he was last weekend.” Molinaro, who works primarily with Theobold, knows what it means to be an All-American — Molinaro was an All-American all four years he was at Penn State and won a National Championship in 2012. Reaching the podium is a shared goal amongst the program
and Theobold has a good shot, according to Molinaro. “I think Kenny is capable of being an All-American. I’m expecting him to get on the podium and compete,” Molinaro said. “He’s going to be going up against a lot of guys ranked ahead of him, but Kenny has a style that is very difficult to prepare for. The guys he
is going to face are guys that haven’t seen him all year. These guys haven’t wrestled Kenny and will overlook a guy like Kenny.” For updates on the Rutgers wrestling team, follow Tyler Karalewich on Twitter @TylerKaralewich. For general Rutgers sports updates, follow @TargumSports.
March 13, 2014
NCAAs Page 6
Dellefave duplicates at-large selection for NCAAs By Tyler Karalewich Associate Sports Editor
At the 2013 EIWA Championships held at the Louis Brown Athletic Center, Vinnie Dellefave drew the top seed at 133 pounds but was disappointed in finishing third, needing an at-large bid to qualify for the NCAA Championships. At this past weekend’s EIWA Championships, Dellefave star ted out with less recognition given to him than the year before, drawing a four th seed at 133 pounds. The senior took his first decision by a score of 5-3 and followed it up with a 4-3 first tiebreaker victory to advance to the semifinals. “[The tiebreaker victory] was a barnburner, and I was trying to stay as calm as I could with the coaches going nuts in the corner. I knew if I kept wrestling I would win the match,” Dellefave said after his first day of competition. “[With] 2-0 so far in this tournament and no losses … I’m excited to keep moving forward and make it to the tournament.” Although he made it to the semifinals, he would find himself fighting for the top of the consolation bracket similar to a season ago.
Dellefave dropped his semifinal bout, 2-1, against top-seeded Mason Beckman of Lehigh. After regulation, two sudden victories and the first tiebreaker would not decide the match, as Dellefave and Beckman entered the second round of tiebreakers. Beckman started down and escaped to go up, 2-1. Dellefave started down after that, but could not find his way out of Beckman’s hold. While the fourth-place result was worse than the previous year, Dellefave still feels the same disappointment and hopeful optimism that he would retain an at-large bid. Dellefave waited three days after the conference tournament to find out his fate. Yesterday at 5 p.m., Dellefave learned that he had qualified for the NCAA Tournament on an atlarge basis. The feeling was satisfying for the ultimate goal of making it to the podium, the fifth-year senior said. “It feels great. You have to be in it to win it, so I am happy that I made it,” Dellefave said after being selected. The selection for Dellefave was justified for head coach Scott Goodale. “It is great for Dellefave to get in. He had some really big wins
Senior Vinnie Dellefave finished outside of the top three at the EIWA Championships at 133 pounds. The fourth-place finish meant that Dellefave needed an at-large bid for the NCAAs. ENRICO CABREDO during the course of the season and proved that the regular season does matter,” Goodale said. “Now the expectations for him are to go there and place.” After a successful season and a more productive conference tournament, Dellefave was not too worried about the selection. After having to wait to find out, the 23-year old was composed no matter the outcome.
“I wasn’t really too worried. Everyone else — all my family and coaches — they were stressing out over it and asking what I was thinking,” Dellefave said. “I was playing it cool. If I got in, then I got in, but if I didn’t then there’s always another plan for me. I wasn’t too nervous, but I’m happy to make it.” An at-large bid was not the worst thing for the Toms River, N.J., native.
“It’s just another way to get in. You definitely want to qualify on your own,” Dellefave said. “But I’m not going to complain. I got my second wildcard, so I guess I have some pretty good luck.” For updates on the Rutgers wrestling team, follow Tyler Karalewich on Twitter @TylerKaralewich. For general Rutgers sports updates, follow @TargumSports.
Wildcard allocation snub ends freshman’s season By Tyler Karalewich Associate Sports Editor
It is hard to guess where freshman Tyson Dippery envisioned himself at the beginning of the season. Dippery ended up losing his wrestle-off at 141 pounds and would have to wait for his opportunity to work his way into the starting lineup. Luckily for Dippery, it was a long season for the Rutgers wrestling team.
After coming in first place Nov. 17 at the East Stroudsburg Open, Dippery earned his chance at the starting lineup Nov. 22 against Clarion. Since then — when he earned a 7-3 decision — the Harrisburg, Pa., native cemented himself in the dual-meet lineup and compiled a season record of 2111 entering the EIWA Championships. Dippery entered as a six seed for the tournament.
After going 2-1 on the first day, earning a major decision and a win by fall, Dippery was in a good spot to win two matches and earned his way to Oklahoma City as a qualifier. With a 20-4 tech fall early in the second day of consolations, Dippery needed just one more win to finish in the top five and earn an automatic qualification to the NCAAs. After swapping takedowns and escapes with ninth-seeded Tyler Scotton
of Boston University, Dippery attacked and tried to earn a takedown that would at least give him fourth place. After losing the decision, 5-4, to Scotton, second-seeded Mike Nevinger of Cornell ended Dippery’s automatic qualification chances with a pin fall in the first period. Dippery would not have to wait nearly as long as he did for his first start to find out whether he earned an
Freshman Tyson Dippery finished in sixth place and was on the outside of automatic qualification following the EIWAs. Dippery failed to receive an at-large bid at 141 pounds after finishing his season 24-14. ENRICO CABREDO
at-large selection after finishing in sixth place. The news came yesterday that Dippery was not selected as an at-large bid for the NCAAs. The freshman took it hard after finishing a strong season. “It sucks that I’m not going to Nationals,” Dippery said, disappointed after finding out his fate a few hours earlier. “It’s hard because this finish is not what I worked for every day and throughout my life.” Not only did Dippery believe he would make it to the tournament, but head coach Scott Goodale agreed that he deserved the chance. “He had a good freshman year and I thought he should have qualified by himself and shouldn’t have been in this position,” Goodale said. “He didn’t have a great tournament, but had the opportunity to win and didn’t. I’m disappointed he isn’t going to nationals when he is good enough to be there.” While he is upset with not making it to the tournament, Dippery thinks it will motivate him that much more as he already begins to train for next season. “I’m going to remember this feeling and how much it sucks not being where I want to be,” Dippery said. “That will drive me right there because I don’t want to have this disappointing feeling and experience again.” For updates on the Rutgers wrestling team, follow Tyler Karalewich on Twitter @TylerKaralewich. For general Rutgers sports updates, follow @TargumSports.
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March 13, 2014
2013-2014 STARTING LINEUP RESULTS Sean McCabe, redshirt freshman
Vinnie Dellefave, senior
21-12 (6-5) at 125 pounds
Nick Visicaro, junior 16-15 (7-9) at 165 pounds Finished seventh at EIWAs
13-10 (8-6) at 133 pounds Finished fourth at EIWAs
Tyson Dippery, freshman 24-14 (9-5) at 141 pounds Finished sixth at EIWAs
Ken Theobold, sophomore 22-12 (9-6) at 149 pounds Finished third at EIWAs
Anthony Perrotti, sophomore 18-12 (7-7) at 157 pounds Finished third at EIWAs
Phil Bakuckus, reshirt freshman 16-11 (11-5) at 174 pounds
Dan Seidenberg, senior 13-13 (7-7) at 184 pounds
Hayden Hrymack, sophomore 14-16 (4-11) at 197 pounds
Billy Smith, sophomore 25-6 (13-2) at heavyweight Finished second at EIWAs
GRAPHIC BY ADAM ISMAIL
ENRICO CABREDO