[Kutztown Press Release] GOLDEN BEAR GRAPPLERS HEADED TO NCAA EAST REGIONALS

[Leiboff, Joshua]

Feb. 27, 2008
GOLDEN BEAR GRAPPLERS HEADED TO NCAA EAST REGIONALS
KUTZTOWN, Pa. - The Kutztown University wrestling team will take part in the 2008 NCAA Division II East Regional Championships this Friday-Saturday, Feb. 29-March 1, at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.
            KU enters the regionals after completing its dual-meet schedule with a 10-4-1 record. This year's East Regional Tournament will feature several of the nation's top-ranked teams, including No. 7 Newberry (S.C.), No. 8 Pitt-Johnstown, No. 12 Gannon, No. 14 Mercyhurst and No. 19 Limestone (S.C.).
Also competing are American International (Mass.), Anderson (S.C.), Belmont Abbey (N.C.), North Carolina-Pembroke, Shippensburg, St. Andrews Presbyterian (N.C.) and West Liberty State (W.Va.).
            KU placed sixth at last year's regional, which was hosted by UNC-Pembroke. Pitt-Johnstown won the team title for the fifth consecutive season.
            KU's grapplers will battle for berths to the NCAA Championships, March 14-15 at Upper Iowa University. The top four finishers in each of the 10 weight classes advance to nationals.
            The Golden Bears have one wrestler looking to make his way back to nationals, and several other grapplers looking to make noise at regionals and earn their first national berths.
            Last season, 149-pounder Chris Chambers (so. Holland/Council Rock South) placed fourth at regionals and is KU's only returning national qualifier from a year ago. Chambers, a two-time NCAA qualifier, holds a record of 17-8 this season.
            Four other Golden Bears will bring winning records into the tournament.  At 157pounds, David Zeek (so. Newtown/Council Rock North) is 17-10.  At 184 pounds, Kyle Davis (so. Peckville/Valley View) is 16-8.  Both are competing at regionals for the second straight season.
            Rookie Kevin Bolinsky (fr. Ashland/North Schuylkill), at 285 pounds, and Scott Snyder (so. Slatington/Northern Lehigh), at 197 pounds, will make their regional debuts.  Bolinsky is 15-8 on the year, while Snyder is 16-8.  Snyder is a transfer from UNC-Greensboro, while Bolinsky was a member of the KU football team this past fall.
            Rounding out KU's probable lineup will be Eddie Harris (fr. Wilmington, Del./Howard), at 125, Rob Vollrath (fr. Richboro/Council Rock South), at 133, Jamie Soupik (fr. Boyertown/Boyertown), at 141, Sonny Flood (jr. Southampton/William Tennent), at 165, and Curtis Beardsell (jr. Warminster/William Tennent) , at 174.
            Sessions one and two of wrestling will begin at 4 p.m. Friday  and will consist of the preliminaries, quarterfinals and two rounds of consolations. On Saturday, Session three will begin at 10 a.m. with the semifinals and the consolation quarterfinals, followed by the consolation semifinals at approximately 12:30 p.m.  The final session will start at 2:30 p.m., featuring the finals, consolation finals, fifth-sixth place matches and true-fourth matches.

     Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children younger than 12 years of age per session.  All-Tournament passes and complimentary tickets will not be available.


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Josh Leiboff
Kutztown University Sports Information
Phone: (610) 683-4182
Fax: (610) 683-4676
Email: leiboff at kutztown.edu
Website: http://www.kubears.com
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