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Penn College wrestlers set to open season

Last season, in their first year under coach Jamie Miller, the Wildcats made strides in the program that was restarted in 2010 after a 26-year lapse when they compiled a 7-20 dual match record — the seven wins was the most in a season since 2012-13 — and freshman Jared Mooney became the first wrestler in school history to place in NCAA Regionals, where he was fourth in the 197-pound weight class.

This season, Miller, who is assisted by Rich Shnyder, is hopeful of continued progress and it all begins at 7 p.m. Thursday when Penn College hosts Delaware Valley at Bardo Gymnasium.

Key returning wrestlers, according to Miller, include Mooney, who had 19 wins a year ago, in the 197-pound weight class, junior co-captain Dylan Otis who is a heavyweight returning Academic All-American who finished in the top eight in regionals and led the team with 32 wins, sophomore co-captain Dan Bergeron at 165, sophomore Christian Fox who also placed in the top eight at regionals, at 133 and sophomore Chris Bashaw, a Jersey Shore grad, at 149.

Miller said at the start of the season the team will forfeit at 125 with either Fox or freshman Colin Jens at 133; either freshman Cam Dickey, a Williamsport grad, or freshman Gavin Link at 141; freshman Jesse Walker or Bashaw at 149; sophomore Jon Martinez at 157; either Bergeron or freshman Makeela Fabrizio at 157; either freshman Colin Browne, sophomore Dylan Gettys or freshman Alec Dickey, a Williamsport grad, at 174 or 184; either Mooney or sophomore Brendan McGinley at 197; and either Otis or freshman Jon Pineda at heavyweight.

“…Our numbers are up. We had a lot of forfeits up and down the lineup last year that made it difficult for us to compete as a team. This year, many of those holes are filled, and we’re looking forward to being more competitive from a team standpoint. I anticipate we will still struggle due to the difficulty of our schedule, but we are working very hard and these guys won’t quit. Even in matches they don’t win, they will hustle and compete, and we’ll look to improve throughout the year like we did last year and hopefully peak when it matters in February,” Miller said.

As part of the team’s opener, Miller said that six local Special Olympic weightlifters who will compete Saturday, Nov. 3, at Villanova University will be recognized.

“We would love to get as much support at that match as possible to wish them luck and recognize all the hard work that they, and their coaches, have put in this year,” the coach added.

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