March 1, 2006

Pioneers Wrestling Team Goes To Nationals

The Pioneers Wrestling Team finished 18th among Division I NJCAA teams at the NJCAA National Championships in Rochester, Minn.
Coach Tony Caterisano said he was very pleased with the standing. Last year, the team was ranked 16th with a much more veteran team - of the seven qualifiers last year five were graduating sophomores and only two were returning freshmen.
This year out of seven qualifiers, five were freshmen and only two graduated. This will be the largest number of returning national qualifiers in the history of the program, Caterisano noted, which bodes well for next year.
Charles Bugarin failed to achieve his second All-American status, missing by one match, due to a
late season injury (high ankle sprain) that kept him out of action from early January right up to the qualifying tournament in mid-February. He did avenge his semi-final overtime loss in the district to David Powell of Williamson Trade (Pa.) by beating Powell 9-7 at Nationals. The two graduating sophomores Charles Bugarin (149 lb.) and Sid Russell (197 lb.) won matches at Nationals and have received much interest from several 4-year schools, including NCAA Div. I Gardner-Webb, Campbell University and Binghamton University (NY).