For Virginia wrestling, the future is here. With a roster filled out by a consensus top-10 recruiting class in coach Steve Garland's second season, the Cavaliers look to push themselves into the nation's elite. Virginia will feature a nucleus of experienced upperclassmen constantly pushed by one of the most highly anticipated recruiting classes in program history.
"The first thing is the amount of talent, the amount of depth in the class," Garland said about the freshmen. "Every single guy we've brought in is trying to vie for a starting spot."
The returning starters cannot be overlooked, however, and they have gained national recognition as well. Among its returning starters Virginia has four wrestlers ranked among the nation's preseason top 30 in their weight classes.
Junior Rocco Caponi leads the Cavaliers with a ninth-place ranking at 184 pounds. After a strong finish to last season, junior Eric Albright ranks 12th at 133 pounds. Sophomore Brent Jones, who redshirted last season, comes in ranked 19th at 197 pounds, and sophomore Kellon Balum is ranked 26th at 141 pounds.
"I truly believe that [Jones] is one of the most underrated wrestlers in the United States," Garland said. Concerning Caponi, he added, "being seeded at Nationals as a redshirt sophomore is pretty darn impressive. He, honestly, legitimately should be an All-American."
The incoming recruits will figure immediately in some of the starting position battles. Even if the freshmen do not start, their presence can serve as an added incentive for the upperclassmen to work harder.
Given the team's depth of talent, the level of competition in practice will increase, and ideally, carry over into the Cavaliers' performances on the mat.
"As far as talent goes, we do expect big things for them," Garland said of the freshmen. "The key is to know they are going to make mistakes, and we have to be patient ... but at the end of the day, it's amazing when you do have an incredible resource to throw out there."
Virginia returns two starters at 125 pounds who have 20 wins in a season, sophomore Ross Gitomer and junior Anthony Burke. Gitomer will be challenged by Burke, who redshirted last season, and freshman Wyatt Anderson.
Albright returns as the starter at 133 pounds after garnering ACC runner-up honors and winning three matches at the NCAA Championship.
Balum, the defending ACC runner-up, will face the toughest battle for the starting spot at 141 pounds against freshmen Scott O'Donnell and Nick Nelson. Both freshmen were top-five recruits coming out of high school and both won state championships.
"It's amazing that we finally have depth but at the same time it poses some interesting problems," Garland said, "You've got three unbelievable wrestlers."
The Cavaliers have a four-way battle for the starting spot at 149 pounds. Sophomore Pat Riley has the most promise after a strong preseason, but he will be challenged by junior Peter Ferrara and freshmen Shawn Harris and Dave Ebbott.
Junior Drew DiPasquale, a former ACC runner-up who posted 17 wins last season, returns to the starting spot for the Cavaliers at 157 pounds. Redshirt freshman Beau Fisher and true freshman Danny Gonsor will battle for time behind him.
Junior Mike Sewell moves up from 157 to 165 pounds this season, where he will contend with redshirt freshman Brent Fiorito and true freshman Michael Chaires. Chaires, a two-time state champion and top-three national recruit, will give Sewell and Fiorito a run for their money.
Fifth-year senior Mike Grogan, a two-time ACC runner-up, and freshman Chris Henrich, last season's National Prep Champion, will vie for the starting spot at 174 pounds.
As a two-time NCAA qualifier, Caponi retains the starting slot at 184 pounds and looks to repeat as ACC champion.
"The young guys are great. I like the energy they've brought into the room," Caponi said. "The best thing [about the start of the season] is just getting that first match out of the way. I'm anxious to just get out there and compete."
Jones returns to the 197-pound class from a redshirt season with some national attention but also a self-aware composure that should prove useful on the mat.
"Redshirt season is kind of hard. You get a lot better, you do a lot wrestling, a lot of working on your moves," Jones said. "[But] going to the matches and watching the rest of the team when I'm not competing is hard. One of the biggest things I'm excited for this weekend and the season is coming back and representing the school."
At heavyweight sophomores Jack Danilkowicz and Calvin Cardillo will compete for the starting spot. Danilkowicz posted a 7-9 record last season, while Cardillo moves up two classes from 184 pounds.
The Cavaliers begin their season Saturday with the U.Va. Quad Meet at Memorial Gymnasium against Wagner, Anderson and Virginia Military Institute.
"I just want our guys to be aggressive. I want them to score points," Garland said. "How you do on Saturday when the lights are on, and [there's] the referee and the nerves, that's all that really counts.
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