Looking to build off a 6–9 campaign a year ago, the Blue Jay wrestling team began their 2010–2011 season this past weekend with three matches at the University of Maryland. This year began with three tough losses.
Hopkins dropped their matches at the Terrapin Duals, falling hard against three formidable Division I opponents: Maryland, West Virginia, and Liberty.
The Jays’ season took flight against the tournament host Terps. Down 15–0, senior and captain Rocky Barilla, who went 11–10 in the 141-pound weight class a year ago, won Hopkins’ only fight, this time competing in the 149-pound division. Barilla won 4–3. In his first collegiate dual, freshman Matt Fusaro fought hard against Kyle John, falling 9–5 in the 157-pound division, while sophomore Reid Mosquera put up a good battle in the 197-pound division, but could not hang on against Christian Boley, 5-2. The Terrapins devastated the Blue Jays, winning 41-3.
In the second game of the season, Hopkins struggled to edge into the win column, falling in a 38-point hole before junior Rick Danilkowicz defeated Mountaineer Phillip Mandzik 3-0 in the heavy weight division. Danilkowicz wrestled in the heavy weight class all of last year, going 4-9. This was the only win for the Blue Jays, losing to the Big East foe 38-3.
The final match of the tournament against Liberty was easily Hopkins’ best of the afternoon. Liberty, who competes in the Big South conference, started out with a 12-0 lead, winning the first four duals. But each of these was much closer than the fights against Maryland and West Virginia.
Sophomore Paul Marcello, wrestling for his third time of the day, hung right with TJ Mitchell of the Flames, falling 5-2 in the 133-pound division. Soon after, it was Barilla who just missed his second win of the season. Barilla fell 3-2 to Miguel Rodriguez.
After two close matches, the Blue Jays finally got their break. Fusaro, the rookie, won his first match for Hopkins, 4-2, to cut the Liberty lead to 12-3.
Senior Eric Levenseller followed suit one match later in the 165-pound division, pinning Eric Reger in just over one minute to give the Jays a 6-point win and cut the lead to 12-9. That was the closest Hopkins would get, however, as the Blue Jays were pinned in their final four matches.
The three losses put the Blue Jays in an early hole with an 0-3 record, but the remainder of the schedule pits Hopkins against DIII opponents.
The Hopkins wrestling team was very young last year and is this year as well, with underclassmen comprising half of the team. The three challenging matches are part of what is sure to be a learning curve early this season. Against D-III and conference opponents, Hopkins should be in good shape.
Their next tournament will be Saturday in Hershey, Pennsylvania against York.
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