Jan. 23, 2009
NORFOLK, Va. -- The ODU Monarch wrestling team earned its highest ever national ranking this week, pegged as the 18th best program in the nation by USA Today/NWCA/InterMat, and will put that ranking on the line as they hit the road to face Bucknell at 1:00 pm this Sunday, January 25. ODU senior Ryan Williams, ranked #7 in the country, will look to add another to his tally of wins, now ranking him second all time at ODU, just 11 shy of the career mark. Juniors Chris Brown and Kyle Hutter, both nationally ranked themselves, will face the Bison individuals in the polls.
The Monarchs are 12-5 overall, 4-0 in the CAA, and Bucknell has posted a 7-6 overall record, including a 2-2 mark in the EIWA. The all-time series favors the Bison, 2-1, but the Monarchs posted a 30-6 win last year.
ODU is coming off a historical win against #18 Hofstra at the CAA Duals, halting a 63-match undefeated streak in conference duals and boosting the Monarchs to the 18th slot, the highest ever for Old Dominion in the national team rankings. Led by five nationally ranked individuals in the starting lineup, ODU is priming up for a big run late in the season.
No. 7 Ryan Williams now has 124 career wins, second all-time for ODU, and needs just 11 to tie the all-time mark set by Jeff Rusak. Sophomore James Nicholson, also ranked in the top ten, has a 26-2 record and has inserted himself into the team's Top 25 in career wins as a sophomore, with a 61-12 career record.
Brown will face Bucknell's 12th ranked Anthony Rendos at 165 lbs. Rendos has been ranked all season long and Brown has been in and out of the national polls. The Monarch 165-pounder is currently ranked as high as 12th in the nation (AWN/W.I.N.).
Hutter will face David Marble for the third time in his career, with Hutter winning both previous matchups. He pinned Marble last season in the third period and earlier this year, he won a 6-3 decision. This is the first week Marble is not nationally ranked by InterMat, but is still listed as the 15th best 133-pounder according to W.I.N. Magazine.
The match begins at 1:00 pm in Davis Gym at Bucknell University. Results will be posted online as soon as they are made available. Stay tuned to odusports.com for more.