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Program Announces Talented Incoming Class For Fall Of '10
Posted: 6/7/2010
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Head coach Bryan Brunk and company will bring in 10 new wrestlers for 2010-2011, including a four-time state champ.

Grantham, PA — Looking to build on a promising 2009-2010 season, the Messiah wrestling program announced it’s 2010-2011 recruiting class Monday, highlighting 10 newcomers to the roster.

With 25 wrestlers returning for the second straight year, eighth-year head coach Bryan Brunk was able to focus on the most pressing needs in solidifying both the 133- and 141-pound weight classes.

“Our coaching staff stepped up to the challenge in a big way,” Brunk said. “We lost some guys to graduation and some returning guys moved up in weight, so we looked to be thin at 133 and 141. We’re bringing in six incoming wrestlers at those weights, and the entire class is quality, both on and off the mat.”

Messiah’s newest additions boast a distinctly local feel, as eight of the 10 grapplers hail from Pennsylvania. It’s also a very accomplished group, as four wrestlers boast 100 or more match wins while six individuals arrive with state championship experience.

A brief look at each of Messiah’s newcomers:

125/133 — Matt Del Gallo (Gardiner, ME)
Career record: 171-1 Senior Year: 48-1; 1st State Championships
Del Gallo is a proven winner as a four-time Maine State Champion. He has great athleticism and is a very good scrambler. Del Gallo should challenge for mat time right away at either 125 or 133.

Coach Brunk says: “Matt’s a special recruit for me coming from my home state. He is already accomplished but he also has a lot of upside and I look for him to improve pretty quickly once he gets into our room!”

125/133 — Kyle Coblentz (Garden Spot, PA)
Career record: 120-26 Senior Year: 34-6; qualified for the PA-AAA State Championships
Coblentz enjoyed a fine career that saw him earn recognition as a four-time Lancaster-Lebanon League All Star. He was also a three-time District 3 qualifier, but really impressed during his senior year when he made the District 3 finals to earn his spot at the PIAA State Championships.

Coach Brunk says: “Kyle is strong in all three positions and could easily find his way into the starting lineup early in his career. He does some very good things on top that will easily translate into college wrestling.”

133 — Matt Gusick (Upper Dublin, PA)
Career record: 60-36 Senior Year: 28-8, qualified to the District 1 championships
Gusick enjoyed success on the mats during his prep career as a two-time district qualifier. He has a funky style and is dangerous from neutral and top. Gusick especially blossomed during his senior year nearly doubling his career win total.

Coach Brunk says: “Matt has a lot of determination and really loves wrestling. I was impressed with him as a young man as well and look forward to working with him.”

133/141 — Ben Knecht (Athens, PA)
Career record: 124-44 Senior Year: 37-10; qualified for the PA-AA State Championships
Knecht comes to the Falcons as a two-time Pennsylvania state qualifier. Wrestling out of Athens High School, Knecht has faced a challenging schedule and has produced great results. While Knecht is most comfortable on top and bottom, his aggressive style makes him a threat from the neutral position as well. He also achieved in the classroom as an All-State Academic selection in wrestling.

Coach Brunk says: “I was sold on Ben when I went to watch him wrestle this season and observed him warming up. He has great motion on his feet and a clear attention to detail in his drilling. I think his style is going to make him very, very successful in college wrestling.”

133/141 — Victor Bracey (Kennard Dale, PA)
Career record: 92-35 Senior Year: 28-4; qualified for the PA-AAA State Championships
A disappointing finish to his junior season fueled Bracey to produce one of the finest senior years in his high school’s history. Bracey’s attacking style on top and neutral helped him become a state qualifier and earn over 90 career wins. He challenges himself by wrestling year round and seeking out the toughest training possible. He should challenge for significant mat time right away.

Coach Brunk says: “Victor is a great kid who has expressed a deep desire to be a part of what we’re doing at Messiah. I really like his attitude and work ethic and his style is dynamic, he does a lot that we can really work with.”

141 — Dave Standridge (Parsippany, NJ)
Career record: 141-22 Senior Year: 27-7; qualified for the NJ State Championships
Standridge comes to Messiah as a three-time State Qualifier from a very tough wrestling state. What’s more he finished in the top 12 at the states two different times in his career. He has very good instincts and solid technique. He will certainly be a key part of Messiah’s lineup in the near future.

Coach Brunk says: “Dave was our first commitment this year and I couldn’t be more excited to have him as part of our team. He is so enthusiastic about being a Messiah Falcon and his excitement is going to serve him well in believing in what we do. I anticipate big things for him here! ”

149 — Angel Escarramen (Milton Hershey, PA)
Career record: 64-29 Senior Year: 25-7; qualified for the District 3-AA Championships
Escarramen enjoyed a good career by any standards, but when considering that he only started wrestling in eighth grade his career is even more impressive. In that short time, Escarramen developed the ability that allowed him to become a three-time district qualifier. One of his greatest strengths is his ability to end a match; of his 64 career wins 41 came by fall.

Coach Brunk says: “Angel is a solid addition to our program and with his relatively late start to the sport he could really improve a lot in college. I’ve enjoyed starting to get to know Angel, and I think he has a lot to offer to our program.”

157 — Seth Guth (Whitehall, PA)
Career record: 75-47 Senior Year: 31-11; Northeast Regional Qualifier
Guth became a three-time regional qualifier out of the very tough District 11 AAA in Pennsylvania. Coming from District 11, he wrestled some of the best teams in the state from a week-to-week basis. Guth also showed steady improvement in win-loss percentage throughout his four years of high school. In a weight with three seniors, Guth will challenge for mat time early on, but either way will be a key wrestler in the Falcons’ future plans.

Coach Brunk says: “Seth comes highly recommended as a student-athlete by his high school coach. He’s the type of kid that we want to fill our team with … solid. I’m looking forward to see more from him as we get started in the fall.”

165 — Ben Kramer (Hempfield, PA)
Career record: 45-18 Senior Year: 33-9; qualified for the PA-AA State Championships
Kramer comes to Messiah as a two-time District 3 Qualifier having finished in the top six at the District 3 championships during his senior year. He is a very strong positional wrestler and is extremely hard to hold down or to takedown. He should provide a strong push in the middle weights.

Coach Brunk says: “Because Ben hadn’t wrestled much (he had mono most of junior year) I wasn’t quite sure what to think of him as a prospect when he came to our summer camp. It wasn’t hard for him to win me over after watching him train and wrestle in the matches at camp. He has a great work ethic, a humble attitude and is very athletic and competitive. I’m always excited to bring in a wrestler with these qualities.”

174 — Ricardo Plummer (York Suburban, PA)
Career record: 65-23 Senior Year: 32-5; District 3 AAA Qualifier
Plummer showed steady improvement throughout his high school career, appropriately peaking during his senior year by qualifying to the PA State Championships. He is very dangerous from neutral and has an explosive style in all positions. His body control and athleticism will make him a huge asset to Messiah’s program.

Coach Brunk says: “Ricardo is a sensational kid. I really enjoy his personality and what we’ve seen and heard about his work ethic. What I’ve seen in his wrestling shows natural ability and a ton of heart, and I know I haven’t been there for his best wrestling, either! I really believe that Rico could produce a ton at this level.”