Drexel-Azevedo announces six early signees in first recruiting class
Philadelphia - Drexel Wrestling Head Coach Matt Azevedo has announced the signing of six student-athletes for the 2012-13 season on Tuesday. Matt Cimato, Steven Elicegui, Jason Fugiel, Gage Harrah, Clayton Lutzow, and Connor Moran will join the Dragons next fall. Fugiel, Harrah, and Lutzow all hail from Crystal Lake, Illinois. This group of wrestlers marks Azevedo and his staff's the first recruiting class at Drexel. The incoming class will expand throughout the year.
"I am very excited about this year's recruiting class," said Azevedo. "These six talented young men will make an immediate impact on our team. They will add a great intensity and energy to our room. I expect a lot of great things from this group on and off the mat."
Cimato will join his brother, 141-pounder Frank, at Drexel next year. At 149 pounds, the La Salle College High standout was the 2011 Powerade Champion and received Fila and Junior National All-American honors. He took third place at 140 pounds in the Pennsylvania State Tournament and fourth in the 2010 Beast of the East. Cimato is currently ranked 6th in the nation.
Elicegui, the 2011 Nevada Sportsman of the Year, is a two time Nevada State Champion, and a three-time Neveda State place winner. The Wooster High School product was the 2011 Junior USA Wrestling Regional Freestyle and Greco Champion.
Fugiel was the 2011 Illinois State runner-up at 145 pounds. He also placed fourth in the Iowa Folkstyle Nationals and placed third in the Freestyle States.
Harrah is currently ranked 2nd in the nation and is the 26th ranked senior over all. He was the 2011 Illinois State Champion also placing fourth as a sophomore. The 184/197 pounder is a Cadet National Champion and a three time All-American. Harrah is also a Fila place winner.
Lutzow has a combined career record of 71-25. He placed fourth at the 2011 Illinois State Tournament at 130 pounds.
Moran, the 165/174 pounder, is currently the top ranked senior in his class academically at Pennsylvania's Solanco High School. On the mat, he placed third at Powerade and fifth at 171 pounds in the Pennsylvania State Tournament. Moran is also the Escape Rock Champion.
Drexel Wins Fifth In Row With 32-6 Toppling of Millersville
Philadelphia - Drexel defeated Millersville, 32-6, in a non-conference dual meet at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The Dragons have now won five-straight matches and a school-record 19 this season. Millersville dropped to 2-8 while Drexel jumped to 19-8.
Freshman Scott Hunter (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) started the Dragons off with three points when he pulled out a 9-7 decision over Mike Knock. Hunter, normally a 165-pounder, stepped up in weight class to challenge Knock at 174 pounds. After the Marauders evened the match with a victory at 184 pounds, sophomore Jon Oplinger (Bath, Pa./Northampton) scored a major decision over Steve Funk, 14-6. It was Oplinger's sixth major decision victory of the season. Heavyweight Chris Cowen (Mexico, N.Y./Mexico) followed with a major decision victory of his own with a 10-1 topping of Mike Davidowich. At 125 and 133 pounds, Drexel scored a pair falls, one pin and one technical, to open up a 22-3 scoring lead. Steve Mytych (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) pinned Mike Acedo-Malaney at 2:01 to register his 21st win of the season. Senior co-captain Zach Makovsky (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) earned Drexel five points with a 20-3 technical fall win over John Andel at 3:14 of the bout. Makovsky, the top-ranked 133-pounder in the CAA, leads the team with six wins by technical fall.
Sophomore Ryan Hluschak (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) earned a major decision victory over Malcolm Haynes at 157 pounds. It was the three-time CAA co-Wrestler of the Week's 14th win in his last 15 matches. He is ranked 19th at 157 pounds in the latest Amateur Wrestling News poll.
The Dragons return to the mat on Thursday, Feb. 16 when they will travel to New Brunswick, N.J. to face Rutgers. The match will begin at 7 p.m.
February 8, 2006
Drexel 32, Millersville 6
174: Scott Hunter (D) d. Mark Knock, 9-7
184: Tim Rice (M) d. Brian Stouffer, 5-0
197: Jon Oplinger (D) m.d. Steve Funk, 14-6
HWT: Chris Cowen (D) m.d. Mike Davidowich, 10-1
125: Steve Mytych (D) wbf. Mike Acedo-Maloney, 2:01
133: Zach Makovsky (D) t.f. John Andel, 20-3
141: Cody Becker (M) d. Billy Martin, 6-1
149: Chris Renninger (D) d. Jarrett Hosteter, 9-8
157: Ryan Hluschak (D) m.d. Malcolm Haynes, 20-6
165: James Therrien (D) d. Josh Evans, 6-4
Ryan Hluschak named CAA's Co-Wrestler of the Week
Philadelphia -The Colonial Athletic Association named Drexel's 157-pound Ryan Hluschak (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) its co-Wrestler of the Week for his performance from Jan. 31-Feb. 6.
Hluschak was a perfect 2-0 with major decision victory over Mason's Mitch Webster and a decision over Davidson's Matt Pendle. In defeating Webster, Hluschak avenged the loss he suffered to Webster in the CAA Championships last season in the third-place match. Hluschak has won 13 of his last 14 matches and has a 25-6 record this season with seven wins by fall, one technical fall, and five major decision victories. His 25 victories match his total from a season ago when he went 25-11.
This is the fourth-consecutive week that a Drexel wrestler has been named CAA's Wrestler of the Week. Hluschak won the award last week and in the week ending on Jan. 17 while heavyweight Chris Cowen won the award in the week ending Jan. 24.
Hluschak and the rest of the Dragons will travel to New Brunswick, N.J. to face Rutgers on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. before coming home to the Daskalakis Athletic Center for Senior Day on Sunday, Feb. 19 to face 14th-ranked Lehigh at 5 p.m.