The Rocket

Issue date: 12/2/05 Section: Sports Extra

Media Credit: SUBMITTED PHOTO Sal Lascari gets the upper hand on Edinboro's Shawn Bunch, but lost the match 13-5 during the Avalon Duals at Edinboro.

To the average Slippery Rock University student, it may appear that the 2005-06 wrestling team is in the process of a rebuilding season. Of the Rock's 10 starters, seven are either freshmen or sophomores.

But the Rock is returning three national qualifiers, one only a sophomore. Coach Derek DelPorto said has high expectations for a couple of the red-shirt freshmen.

"The majority of my guys are red-shirt freshmen or sophomores," the second-year coach said. "I'm expecting big things out of these guys."

Red-shirt freshman Sal Lascari is one of the wrestlers DelPorto expects to make an impact. He said Lascari has some work to do to compete in the 133-pound weight class, which is one of the tougher ones. DelPorto believes Lascari will step up to the challenge.

"His learning curve is unreal," DelPorto said. "I look for Sal to become one of Slippery Rock's best wrestlers."

Moving up a couple of weight classes at, 157 pounds, is red-shirt sophomore Garry Price. Price, one of the three returning NCAA qualifiers, isn't at his normal position.

The sophomore, who wrestled at 165 pounds a year ago, is looking to duplicate his success this season.

"He is very tough to wrestle and has incredible hips," DelPorto said. "Once he figures out his style, I look for Garry to be a consistent bright spot and dual-meet wrestler."

Other wrestlers looking to rack up wins this year include sophomores Chris Clarke and Andrew Joseph at 125 and 197 pounds, respectively, freshman David Pienaar at 141 pounds, red-shirt freshman Braden Shaw at 149 pounds and red-shirt sophomore Jerimiah Frederick at 174 pounds.

Frederick, coming off a wrist injury last December, has already enjoyed success this season, when he went 2-1 at the Avalon Duals in Edinboro on Nov. 12. Frederick was a bright spot through a rough day as the Rock fell to the fighting Scots, 41-0, followed by losses to Maryland, 21-14, and Old Dominion, 31-9.

"He's a very athletic wrestler with a ton of potential," DelPorto said of Frederick. "He needs to find a consistent pace, and when he does, we expect him to be one of those guys that wins all the time."

Continued...

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