Battling wounded Pride
Hofstra to enter clash with Penn missing three starters due to injury
· January 29, 2010, 3:17 am
With a clean bill of health, junior Scott Giffin should be able to handle a Hofstra opponent who has a 2-11 record.
For one of the few times this season, Penn’s wrestling team will enter a dual with the healthier squad.
The Quakers will travel to Hempstead, N.Y., Sunday to take on a hobbled Hofstra team that has seen its 125- and 149-pound starters go down with season-ending injuries. On top of that, Pride junior Ryan Patrovich (174) has sat out his last eight matches due to injury after compiling a 16-7 record.
The Quakers, on the other hand, are hoping for the return of one of their injured senior co-captains, Cesar Grajales (149), with coach Rob Eiter giving his comeback 70-30 odds.
Fellow captain Matt Dragon, who has been in and out of the lineup with a recurring shoulder problem, will not wrestle. Dragon gave it a go last week against Pittsburgh but eventually had to forfeit his match because his injury flared up again.
While the decision of when to bring Dragon back has been difficult for Eiter all season, the prospect of the senior being matched-up with Hofstra’s Jonny Bonilla-Bowman made his choice a little easier.
Ranked No. 16 in the country, Bonilla-Bowman is an aggressive wrestler. Just last week he posted a major decision over Missouri’s Patrick Wright, 21-10. In other words, he’s not exactly the guy you want to line up against when injured.
“You’re prone to get hurt as you get tired … and Bonilla-Bowman is going to get you tired no matter what,” Eiter said.
Although his injury has sidelined him for a chunk of his senior year, Dragon has prepared himself enough mentally to deal with frustration.
“I can only control for the variables that I can control for,” Dragon said. “I can’t control for any more injuries.”
And despite the fact that a forfeit at the 157-pound weightclass will put the Quakers in an early hole, Eiter said there will be a number of winnable matches.
The amount of injuries to the Pride has shaken up their lineup, and some of their wrestlers have struggled in new roles. Junior No. 20 Scott Giffin (174) should be able to control his match against Patrovich’s replacement, Jon Rothman, who is just 2-11 this season.
Meanwhile, junior Bryan Ortenzio (133) and freshman Micah Burak (197) are also slated for favorable matchups, as their opponents have a paltry combined 9-29 record this season.
Things will be tougher for Burak’s older brother Gabe (165), who is set for a rematch against the Pride’s P.J. Gillespie. The two squared off in the seventh-place match at the Southern Scuffle earlier this season, with Gabe edging Gillespie in a low-scoring 3-1 affair.
While Gillespie will be sure to make some adjustments this time around, the elder Burak has been working on a few technical aspects of his own.
Ever the strategist, Gabe was unwilling to divulge just exactly what he has been working on.
“I’d rather not say,” he replied with a smile.
It looks like Hofstra will be first to find out what tricks the Penn wrestler has up his sleeve.
Comments (32)
lenatpena80
April 19, 2010, 1:01 pm
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This is cool. I love being a figther. Thanks for the post.
JoshNod
April 21, 2010, 1:12 am
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I just moved to the area and am very glad to follow Pennsylvania sports and keep up to date. I have to travel all around the state, so I try to catch all of the events that I can.
juliechen45
April 22, 2010, 9:26 pm
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They should never force on to compete with injuries. He should get it checked and get some rest! Hopefully, the next season, he'll be better than ever! I've seen a lot of MMA fighters (not really the same but its still similar) lose just because they forced themselves into competing and whine about losing in the end! Dale
daleann8875
April 24, 2010, 7:12 pm
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I'm glad they decided to sit this one out this year! Give them time to fully recover then get ready for an awesome comeback next season!
seo articles
April 26, 2010, 10:21 am
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Fellow captain Matt Dragon, who has been in and out of the lineup with a recurring shoulder problem, will not wrestle. Dragon gave it a go last week against Pittsburgh but eventually had to forfeit his match because his injury flared up again.
alangston
May 10, 2010, 5:03 pm
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They did well for being three starters down. I'm proud of our team.
--------------------- Aaron
faraz786g
May 16, 2010, 3:56 am
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Its always good to learn tips like you share for blog posting. As I just started posting comments for blog and facing problem of lots of rejections. I think your suggestion would be helpful for me. I will let you know if its work for me too.
seo articles
May 16, 2010, 11:30 pm
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Meanwhile, junior Bryan Ortenzio (133) and freshman Micah Burak (197) are also slated for favorable matchups, as their opponents have a paltry combined 9-29 record this season. | |
jillbirk
May 18, 2010, 7:26 am
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It's obvious, that they should never force on to compete with injuries.
mircoseta
May 28, 2010, 10:06 am
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Captain Matt Dragon, who has been in and out of the lineup with a recurring shoulder problem, will not wrestle :(((( Mirco -
mellystones
May 28, 2010, 6:23 pm
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What you wrote doesnt have anything in common with the topic discussed... it's like talking about a in a green grass environment!
mellystones
May 28, 2010, 6:38 pm
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Well... I would say "luckily" :) Melly -
benb51
May 29, 2010, 8:56 am
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He should get it checked and get some rest, and I suggest to have this rest on any of the , high quality places with not so much money! Benny
piotrkuk
June 1, 2010, 5:06 am
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They should never force on to compete with injuries. He should get it checked and get some rest! Hopefully, the next season, he'll be better than ever! I've seen a lot of MMA fighters (not really the same but its still similar) lose just because they forced themselves into competing and whine about losing in the end!
boybill76
June 1, 2010, 10:54 am
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Hi, what sport do you practice? Where do you fight? Any special style? |
carlabenne
June 1, 2010, 6:52 pm
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They should never force on to compete with injuries. He should get it checked and get some rest! Hopefully, the next season, he'll be better than ever! I've seen a lot of MMA fighters (not really the same but its still similar) lose just because they forced themselves into competing and whine about losing in the end! |
sally.bone45
June 2, 2010, 5:21 am
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They should never force on to compete with injuries. He should get it checked and get some rest! Hopefully, the next season, he'll be better than ever! I've seen a lot of MMA fighters (not really the same but its still similar) lose just because they forced themselves into competing and whine about losing in the end! | | |
jerrysik
June 2, 2010, 2:31 pm
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The amount of injuries to the Pride has shaken up their lineup, and some of their wrestlers have struggled in new roles. Junior No. 20 Scott Giffin (174) should be able to control his match against Patrovich’s replacement, Jon Rothman, who is just 2-11 this season. |
jim.lee37
June 3, 2010, 6:12 am
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They should never force on to compete with injuries. He should get it checked and get some rest! Hopefully, the next season, he'll be better than ever! I've seen a lot of MMA fighters (not really the same but its still similar) lose just because they forced themselves into competing and whine about losing in the end! |
ha_madison
June 4, 2010, 6:03 am
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They should never force on to compete with injuries. He should get it checked and get some rest! Hopefully, the next season, he'll be better than ever! I've seen a lot of MMA fighters (not really the same but its still similar) lose just because they forced themselves into competing and whine about losing in the end! | |
markbriston
June 5, 2010, 7:07 am
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An excellent training program, a healthy diet, and Sport Supplement can help you be in shape and stay in shape so you could constantly give a stand-out performance. |
joyhett
June 11, 2010, 5:27 pm
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Wtf!! What's that? He can't control for injuries? This is unacceptable! We should complaint or make an appeal!
georgehero
June 14, 2010, 5:30 am
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It's obvious, that they should never force on to compete with injuries. |
tony.berek
June 18, 2010, 5:13 am
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Captain Matt Dragon, who has been in and out of the lineup with a recurring shoulder problem, will not wrestle :(((( That's a real pity! |
milataka
June 19, 2010, 6:52 am
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the next season, he'll be better than ever! I've seen a lot of MMA fighters (not really the same but its still similar) lose just because they forced themselves into competing and whine about losing in the end! |
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