Feb. 8, 2012
Joe Budi Previews Senior Night vs. NC State:
ODU All-Decade Team Highlights:
NORFOLK, Va. - The No. 23 Old Dominion University Wrestling team will honor their two seniors along with 10 members of the All-Decade Team on Thursday against NC State at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.
ODU seniors Te Edwards and Joe Budi will be honored before the match begininng at 7:30 p.m. At intermission during the match, the Monarch Wrestling All-Decade Team featuring a wrestler from each weight class will be honored.
The Monarchs (12-8), which moved up to No. 23 in this week's NWCA/USA Today Division I Team Coaches Poll, are 6-10 all-time against NC State, but have won their last four meetings against the Wolfpack as Steve Martin is 4-0 against NC State in his time at helm of the Monarch Wrestling program.
The Wolfpack (4-7) have lost three consecutive duals and six of their last seven heading into Thursday night's match. They lost to rival North Carolina on Senior Night at home in their last outing on Friday evening, 20-18. Redshirt senior Darius Little leads the Wolfpack at 141 pounds with a record of 29-9 and No. 11 national ranking.
The match against the Wolfpack is the final home dual of the 2011-12 season for the Monarchs. Head Coach Steve Martin invites all fans, friends, faculty/staff and students to come out and support the team.
A pre-match social will begin at 6 p.m. in the Big Blue Room with complimentary beverages and a highlight video of the season. RSVP by Feb. 8 at ODUSports.com/events and enter code: WR0209 or call 757.683.3359.
If you can't make the pre-match social, bring a canned food item or a coat and get in to the match for $1. All proceeds will go to the Salvation Army. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for youth and all ODU students get in for free.
#23 Old Dominion Probable Starters
125: #32 Jerome Robinson (9-7) or Rob Deutsch (19-8)
133: Scott Festejo (15-12) or Eric Dunnet (2-7)
141: Justin LaValle (21-12) or Jacob Kingett (6-12) or Taylor Moeder (17-10)
149: Brennan Brumley (12-14) or Chris Mecate (17-12)
157: #20 John Nicholson (22-5) or Pete Baldwin (15-8)
165: #24 Tristan Warner (24-11) or Brett Miller (11-8)
174: #13 Te Edwards (18-3)
184: Billy Curling (18-15) or Austin Coburn (11-9)
197: Joe Budi (19-10)
285: Matt Tourdot (17-10) or Grant Chapman (4-7)
NC State Probable Starters
125: #23 Coltin Fought (22-7)
133: Ben Elliott (1-15) or Michael Avelar (0-0)
141: #11 Darrius Little (29-9)
149: Matt Nereim (14-11)
157: Colton Palmer (12-12)
165: Nijel Jones (18-15)
174: #32 Quinton Godley (25-11)
184: Robert O'Neill (16-13)
197: KaRonne Jones (14-19)
285: Josh Davis (11-17)
ODU All-Decade Team
125: James Nicholson (2007-11)
133: Kyle Hutter (2006-11)
141: Ryan Williams (2005-09)
149: Joey Metzler (2006-11)
157: Nick Pullano (2004-08)
165: Chris Brown (2005-10)
174: Jeff Rusak (1997-02)
184: Jesse Strawn (2006-10)
197: Adam Wright (2003-06)
HWT: Derrell Lorthridge (2000-04)
125: James Nicholson wrestled from 2007-2011 and was a four-time national qualifier, a two-time All-American and four-time academic All-American. With a career record of 138-20, the Des Moines, Iowa native is tied for the most wins in school history.
133: Kyle Hutter, now an assistant coach at ODU, wrestled for the Monarchs from 2006-2011. He's a three-time national qualifier, an All-American and a three-time time academic All-American. The Mokena, Illinois native finished in ninth place on the all-time wins list at ODU with a career record of 113-52.
141: Ryan Williams is a three-time national qualifier, an All-American and a 2009 NCAA finalist who wrestled from 2005-2009. The Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania native was the CAA Wrestler of the Year and the ODU Athlete of the Year in 2009 and finished with a career record of 137-41, third most wins in school history.
149: Joey Metzler wrestled from 2006-2011, is an Academic All-American and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in his senior season. The Dayton, Virginia native picked up four victories in his career over NCAA qualifiers.
157: Nick Pullano wrestled for ODU from 2004-2008 and was a qualifier for the NCAA Tournament in 2007. A native of Chesapeake, he was a two-time intercollegiate state champion.
165: Chris Brown wrestled from 2005-10 and is a three-time national qualifier, an All-American and a three-time CAA champion. Brown, a native of Chesapeake, is tied for the most wins in school history with a career record of 138-42.
174: Jeff Rusak wrestled at ODU from 1997-2002 and is a four-time NCAA qualifier who was the No. 5 national seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2002. The Reading, Pennsylvania native, is the all-time leader in pins at ODU, never lost a collegiate dual match with a career record of 135-19 and was the ODU Athlete of the Year in 2001.
184: Jesse Strawn wrestled from 2006-10 and is a three-time NCAA qualifier. The Holton, Kansas, native has a career record of 128-61, good for the fifth most wins in school history. Of his 128 wins, 45 of them came by pin.
197: Adam Wright is a two-time NCAA qualifier who wrestled from 2003-2006. The Dayton, Virginia native was named the ODU Athlete of the Year in 2006 and is seventh on the all-time wins list at ODU with a career record of 120-31.
HWT: Derrell Lorthridge wrestled at ODU from 2000-2004 and was an NCAA qualifier as a senior when he racked up a record of 37-11 that season. A native of Wilmington, Delaware, he is part of the elite 100-win club at ODU with 104 career victories.