BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 8, 2024) — Morgan State University is gearing up for an exciting day of dual competition this Sunday at the historic Hill Field House in Baltimore, Maryland. The Bears will first hit the mat against Glenville State at noon, marking an important encounter for both teams as they look to establish early momentum in the season.
Following this matchup, Morgan State will face off against Bucknell at 2 p.m., a clash that promises to be equally competitive.
SCOUTING GLENVILLE STATE
• Glenville State (0-1) was last in action on November 6 at No. 18 West Virginia. The Pioneers dropped a 35-10 decision to the Mountaineers with Gaetano DeLeonardis (165), Kyle Hornet (184) and Nick Johnson (197) earning victories for the Pioneers.
• Hornet's victory at No. 18 West Virginia was over the 23rd ranked wrestler in Division !.
• Glenville State was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the Super Region 3 Coaches Poll. The Pioneers earned 93 total points to take the top spot.
• The Pioneers return Gavin Quiocho, the program's first-ever National Champion (133 lbs) and 2x All-American. Gaetano DeLeonardis is back as the Millersville transfer captured an MEC championship (157 lbs), qualified for Nationals and became an All-American with a third-place finish last year. MEC champion and National qualifier Nick Johnson returns to the mat as well for GSU.
• Glenville State finished the 2023-24 season with a 13-10 overall record and captured the Mountain East Conference Tournament Championship (Jan. 27, 2024).
• The Pioneers are led by head coach Dylan Cottrell who enters his fifth season. Cottrell was also named Coach of the Year in the MEC for the second straight season.
SCOUTING BUCKNELL
• Bucknell is 1-1 on the season with a season-opener 35-9 win against Kent State, followed by a 26-11 loss this past Sunday at Big Ten power Maryland. Dillon Bechtold, Dylan Chappell and Myles Takats headlined the Bison effort by delivering 2-0 days.
• Kade Davidheiser (125) recorded a decision over Kent State's Nico Calello. No. 11 Kurt Phipps recorded a technical fall (16-0) over Tyeler Hagensen. No. 25 Dylan Chappell grabbed his first win by beating Eli Ascroft by a fall. No. 29 Myles Takats won a technical fall. Logan Deacetis picked up a major decision, and Dillon Bechtold recorded a fall.
• Chappell recorded its second win of the day by defeating Maryland's Michael Pizzuto in a decision, while Takats obtained a technical fall over Branson John. Bechtold finished the Bison scoring with a decision (9-6) over Chase Mielnik.
• Bucknell finished the 2023-24 season with a 8-8 overall record and went 4-5 in Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association action.
• Dan Wirnsberger, who was named the 15th coach of the Bucknell wrestling program on May 10, 2005, enters his 20th year at the helm of the Orange and Blue in 2024-25. He currently ranks second on the Bison career wins list with 157.
NOTABLES
• Leading the return of NCAA Division I, Varsity-level men's wrestling to Maryland's largest Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Morgan State University announced the hiring of Kenny Monday as the Athletics Department's new men's wrestling coach, effective Aug. 24, 2022. Monday, the first Black wrestler in history to win an Olympic gold medal, is a National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, three-time Olympian and former NCAA All-American standout, who brings a championship-level coaching pedigree and an expansive yet impressive resume to a Bears' wrestling program looking to restart after a 25-year hiatus. Monday comes to Morgan after serving as the director of wrestling and head wrestling coach at Spire Academy, since 2021.
• Last season, Morgan was wrestling in its first competition in 25 years after the program was reinstated this season to make it the only HBCU with a Division I wrestling program.
• In October 2021, the University announced its plans to revive the men's wrestling program at Morgan with the support a $2.7-million gift from HBCU Wrestling (HBCUW), a new initiative reestablishing wrestling programs on HBCU campuses. The gift, which is among the largest received from a private donor to the University, provides funding for the program and supports up to nine full scholarships annually.
• The Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association has approved the addition of Morgan State as its newest member institution. Morgan is the 12th member of the EIWA, the oldest wrestling conference in the nation.
• Among the athletes to watch this season is sophomore
Kingsley Menifee, an 184-pounder returning healthy after an injury sidelined him last year. Menifee has already demonstrated his potential with impressive matches against top-ranked wrestlers, establishing himself as one of the team's more seasoned competitors. Also poised for a strong season is sophomore
Shawn Ryncarz, a 133-pounder who had an outstanding year last season.
• The coaching staff has been busy recruiting and welcoming
Myrin Nixon, a promising 140-pounder from Great Bridge High School who excelled in high school.
• With former standout Jake Marsh's departure, several individuals are expected to step into leadership roles this season. Senior
Darrien Roberts, a 170-pounder who transferred from the University of Oklahoma, is anticipated to take on significant leadership responsibilities. "He is going to fill those shoes," Monday stated.
• Junior
Xavier Doolin, a transfer from the University of Northern Colorado, will also play a key role in guiding younger wrestlers. Monday emphasized the importance of Doolin's leadership, stating, "He brings valuable leadership experience from competing against high-level players, and we expect big things from him. Our goal is to help every wrestler achieve their best performance. With Darrien being a senior, we want him to have his best season ever in college."
Season tickets and individual match tickets are now on sale for the 2024-25 Morgan State wrestling season - Click
here
FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit
www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more.
• Follow us on social media:
Facebook: /MorganStateBears
Twitter: @MorganStBears
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified
high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's
Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus
designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit
www.morgan.edu.
