Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks

OAC Championship Preview: Adams Looks For Three-Peat, JCU Looks To Surprise At League Championship Wrestling Meet

Ben Adams hopes to have a third league crown by the end of the 2010 OAC Championships Saturday
Ben Adams is John Carroll's most bankable name, but head coach Kerry Volkmann is hoping some of his "no-names" pull off some suprises as the youthful Blue Streak squad gears up for the 2010 Ohio Athletic Conference Wrestling Championships Saturday at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio.

Click here for the official website of the OAC Championships

Adams, 26-3 on the year, is the odds on favorite at 184 pounds. The senior from Lavonia, Michigan has disposed of all six of his conference opponents so far this season. As if his pure talent isn't enough of an obstacle for opponents, he has the experience factor on his side as well. In his career, Adams has two OAC crowns 184 pounds, as well as the trip to the NCAA Division III National Championship that comes with the conference title.

A few of those "no-names" hope to make a name for themselves and punch their ticket to the NCAA Division III Championships to be hosted by Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on March 5-6. 

Leading that group is sophomore Connor Suba, competing in his first year of intercollegiate wrestling after taking last year off. Suba is 5-1, with his lone loss coming at 157 pounds to Ohio Northern's Luke Miller, an All-American in the 157-pound weight class. Suba will be wrestling at 149 pounds this week where he's 5-0 and figures to be a real threat.

While Suba won't have to go through Luke Miller, his former high school teammate Vinny Pizzuli will. Pizzulli, the former St. Edward Eagle, was 3-1 this season at 157 pounds, also his first in the collegiate ranks. 

Another sophomore, Sean Gill, gets the nod from Coach Volkmann at 165 pounds. He was 2-2 this season after he broke into the starting lineup in the middle of January. Gill lost his last two bouts at 165 pounds, but will enterer the tournament with nothing to lose.

Sticking with the young crew, JCU will send freshman David Malkus to the mat at 141 pounds. The freshman from Troy, Ohio, was just 2-3 in conference meets during his rookie campaign, but showed great promise by compiling a 13-9 overall record.

One of the most experienced wrestlers competing with the youngsters is junior Jim Nemunaitis at 197 pounds. He put together a 3-3 campaign in OAC competition but, like Malkus, was 14-12 overall, exemplifying house tough of a wrestling conference this is.

Junior Greg Stolfer also hopes to surprise. Posting a 2-2 record in the OAC, the 125-pounder has been solid despite not starting his season until January.
Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Stories

Sponsors