CAA SILVER ANNIVERSARY TEAM FOR WRESTLING ANNOUNCED FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rob Washburn (804 754 1616) RICHMOND, Va. (November 3, 2009) The Colonial Athletic Association has announced its wrestling Silver Anniversary team, which includes 22 All America honorees and 10 former CAA Wrestlers of the Year. As part of its 25 th Anniversary celebration in 2009 10, the CAA is recognizing Silver Anniversary teams in 21 championship sports. The teams are selected by a panel of current and former coaches in the conference. Members of the CAA Silver Anniversary team for wrestling are: Mike Coyle (James Madison), John Curtis (George Mason), Jason DeBruin (Hofstra), Josh Feldman (Virginia Tech), Matt Finacchio (George Mason), Don Fisch (Rider), Sean Gray (Virginia Tech), Charles Griffin (Hofstra), Nick Hall (Old Dominion), Ryan Hluschak (Drexel), Chris Martin (Virginia Tech), Jon Masa (Hofstra), James Nicholson (Old Dominion), Michael Patrovich (Hofstra), Josh Patterson (Binghamton), Rob Rebmann (Drexel), Lou Ruggirello (Hofstra), Jeff Rusak (Old Dominion), Chris Skretkowicz (Hofstra), Jody Staylor (Old Dominion), James Strouse (Hofstra), Doug Umbehauer (Rider), Chris Weidman (Hofstra), Ryan Williams (Old Dominion) and Payam Zarrinpour (Sacred Heart). Wrestling began as a conference sport in the CAA with seven teams in 1991 92. Membership varied with nine different schools competing in the league during the first decade. In 2001 02 the CAA merged with the East Coast Wrestling Association (ECWA), increasing membership to 12 schools. Currently, eight teams compete for the CAA championship. Hofstra has captured all eight CAA wrestling championships since joining the conference in 2001 02. George Mason has won five CAA titles (1992, 1995 97, 2001) and James Madison (1999, 2000) and Virginia Tech (1993, 1998) have claimed a pair of championships. Old Dominion won the CAA championship in 1994. Individually, the Monarchs have had two wrestlers finish as national runner up at the NCAA Wrestling Championship Jody Staylor (126 lbs) in 1994 and Ryan Williams (141 lbs) in 2009. More extensive biographies of the members of the Silver Anniversary team are included with this release. Photos and a video of the anniversary team are available at http://www.caasports.com/viewarticle.dbml?db_oem_id=8500&atclid=204826706
CAA Wrestling 25 th Anniversary Team Mike Coyle James Madison 1995 2000 Phillipsburg, N.J. CAA Athlete of the Year and NCAA All American in 2000 Two time CAA Champion (141 pounds in 1999, 133 pounds in 2000) JMU s Most Outstanding Wrestler in 1999 and 2000 John Curtis George Mason 1989 1993 Fairfax, Va. Three time NCAA qualifier and two time All American (1992, 1993) CAA Athlete of the Year and CAA Champion at 190 pounds in 1992 and 1993 Tied for third on George Mason s career wins list with 113 Jason DeBruin Hofstra 1997 2002 Spencerport, N.Y. Four time NCAA qualifier who posted a 135 36 career record Four time conference champion (141 & 149 pounds) Named Most Outstanding Wrestler at 2002 CAA Championship Josh Feldman Virginia Tech 1990 94 Dunwoody, Ga. Three time NCAA qualifier who earned All America honors in 1994 CAA heavyweight champion in 1992, 1993 and 1994 Posted a career record of 85 23 1 Matt Finacchio George Mason 1993 95 West Point, Pa. Two time NCAA qualifier who earned All America honors in 1995 CAA Champion in 1994 (118 lbs.) and 1995 (126 lbs.) Won the Virginia State Intercollegiate championship in 1995 (126 lbs.) Don Fisch Rider 2003 08 Williamstown, N.J. Four time NCAA qualifier who received All America honors in 2007 CAA Champion in 2005 (141 lbs.) and 2008 (149 lbs) CAA Rookie of the Year in 2003 04 and Rider Athlete of the Year in 2006 07 Sean Gray Virginia Tech 1998 2002 Flemington, N.J. CAA Champion at 134 pounds and CAA Rookie of the Year in 1998 Two time NCAA All America selection Compiled a career record of 131 17 Charles Griffin Hofstra 2004 08 Reading, Pa. Four time NCAA qualifier and two time NCAA All American (2007 & 2008) CAA Wrestler of the Year in 2007 and 2008 and Rookie of the Year in 2005 Three time CAA champion (133 & 141) who compiled a career record of 126 25
Nick Hall Old Dominion 1991 96 Middle Island, N.Y. Three time NCAA qualifier who was an All American in 1995 CAA Wrestler of the Year and CAA heavyweight champion in 1995 and 1996 Three time Virginia State champion who posted a career record of 116 18 3 Ryan Hluschak Drexel 2004 08 Slatington, Pa. Two time NCAA qualifier (157 lbs.) who received All America accolades in 2007 Holds the Drexel record for career wins with 121 NWCA All Academic team member during all four seasons Chris Martin Virginia Tech 1996 2001 Norfolk, Va. Four time NCAA qualifier who earned All America honors in 2000 (165 lbs) Compiled a career record of 126 27 Shares the Tech record for career dual meet wins with 58 Jon Masa Hofstra 2000 06 Long Beach, N.Y. Four time NCAA qualifier and three time NCAA All American (149 lbs.) CAA Wrestler of the Year in 2005 and Most Outstanding Wrestler at 2006 Championship Four time CAA champion who compiled a career record of 131 34 James Nicholson Old Dominion 2007 present Des Moines, Iowa Two time NCAA qualifier who received All America honors in 2008 (125 lbs.) CAA champion at 125 pounds in 2008 and 2009 and 2008 CAA Rookie of the Year Received NWCA Academic All America accolades in 2008 Michael Patrovich Hofstra 2001 07 Bohemia, N.Y. Four time NCAA qualifier who earned All America honors in 2006 & 2007 CAA Wrestler of the Year in 2006 and Most Outstanding Wrestler at 2007 Championship Three time CAA champion (165 & 174 lbs.) who compiled a 106 30 career mark Josh Patterson Binghamton 2006 present Ontario, N.Y. Three time NCAA qualifier who received All America honors in 2009 (184 lbs) Led the nation with 46 victories and 22 pins in 2009 CAA champion at 184 pounds in 2009 Rob Rebmann Drexel 2000 04 Pen Argyl, Pa. Two time NCAA qualifier who was Drexel s first NCAA All American in 2004 (125 lbs) Member of the Amateur Wrestling News All Rookie team in 2000 01 Career record of 66 32 in three seasons, including 30 wins in 2001 02
Lou Ruggirello Hofstra 2006 present Walden, N.Y. Three time NCAA qualifier and CAA champion at 133 pounds First Hofstra wrestler to be ranked #1 in the nation (Dec. 2007) 2008 NCAA Championships Gorrarian Award winner Jeff Rusak Old Dominion 1998 2002 Reading, Pa. Two time NCAA qualifier and two time CAA champion at 174 pounds Named CAA Wrestler of the Year in 2002 and Rookie of the Year in 1999 Career record of 135 19 with an ODU record 51 pins Chris Skretkowicz Hofstra 2001 05 Hamburg, N.J. Four time NCAA qualifier and two time All American at 197 pounds CAA Wrestler of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and Rookie of the Year in 2002 Three time CAA champion who holds the Hofstra career wins record (140) Jody Staylor Old Dominion 1993 95 Virginia Beach, Va. Two time NCAA qualifier who was the national runner up at 126 lbs in 1994 CAA Wrestler of the Year and Virginia State Champion in 1994 CAA champion at 126 pounds in 1994 and 1995 James Strouse Hofstra 2002 07 Levittown, N.Y. Four time NCAA qualifier who earned All America honors in 2007 (157 lbs) Three time CAA champion and four time CAA finalist at 157 pounds Went 41 5 and was ranked as high as #2 in the nation as a senior Doug Umbehauer Rider 2004 09 Shamong, N.J. Four time NCAA qualifier who received All America honors in 2009 (184 lbs) CAA champion at 184 pounds in 2007 and 2008 Compiled a 103 39 career record and was Rider s Athlete of the Year in 2008 09 Chris Weidman Hofstra 2004 07 Baldwin, N.Y. Earned NCAA All America honors at 197 pounds in 2006 and 2007 CAA champion at 197 pounds in 2007 Had 33 8 record and was ranked as high as #3 in the nation as a senior Ryan Williams Old Dominion 2005 09 Mechanicsburg, Pa. Three time NCAA qualifier who was the national runner up at 141 lbs in 2009 2009 CAA Wrestler of the Year and Most Outstanding Wrestler at 2008 championship Two time CAA champion at 141 pounds who holds the ODU career wins record (137)
Payam Zarrinpour Sacred Heart 2003 07 Shiraz, Iran Four time NCAA qualifier who received All America honors in 2007 (Hvy.) Three time CAA heavyweight champion who was Rookie of the Year in 2004 Compiled a 127 32 record for his career