BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Sixth year head coach, Billy Greene, and his Fighting Camel wrestlers will open up their 2009-10 schedule on Saturday, November 7th at the Cavalier Duals. Campbell will face off with Anderson University at 10 a.m. and will meet the host, Virginia, at 2 p.m.
The Camels return seven starters from their 2008-09 squad that was the most successful in over a decade. They posted an overall 8-10 record and came up just short in their attempt to send multiple wrestlers to the NCAA Tournament. The eight wins were the most since the 1997-98 group posted twelve wins.
Individually, the Camels will look to a trio of seniors to set the pace. Richie Apolinar (133 pounds), Kelin Bidelspach (141 pounds), and CJ Gittens (125 pounds) are in their final season with the orange and black. Bidelspach leads all active Camels with his 62 career victories and led the team individually in 08-09 with 21 overall wins and ten wins by fall.
Apolinar and Gittens helped Bidelspach to anchor the three lowest weight classes with their 22 and 20 overall wins, respectively. The seniors combined last year for an overall record of 63-44 with a 27-16 dual match record and 12 wins by fall.
Anderson University comes in as a highly regarded Division II wrestling program. After finishing last season ranked in the Top 25, the Anderson wrestling team is garnering national attention with the 2009-10 season looming. The Trojans are ranked 10th in the preseason NCAA Division II Super Region I poll released this week and a trio of AU wrestlers gained individual recognition.
At 133 pounds, AU junior Chris Francis is ranked sixth, while senior J.J. Jackson finds himself ranked third in the region at 157 pounds. Joining them is senior Luis Audelo, who is ranked sixth at 197 pounds.
After meeting Anderson, the Camels will face off with a Virginia team that is ranked as high as No. 17 in some preseason wrestling polls. The Wahoos sport a total of six wrestlers who have been given individual preseason national rankings.
They are lead by junior Chris Henrich, who is ranked as high as No. 2 in some preseason polls at the 174 pound weight class. Henrich earned All-America honors in 2008-09.
Brent Jones is ranked as high as No. 7 at 197 pounds, and Nick Nelson stands as high as 10th at 141. Michael Chaires is ranked 16th at 165 pounds, while Ross Gitomer is 17th in the rankings at 125 pounds. Matt Bonson is ranked 21st at 133 pounds by another poll.
After their visit to Charlottesville, the Campbell wrestlers will make a trip down to UNC Pembroke on Saturday, November 14th for the Pembroke Classic. The tournament is slated to kickoff at 9 a.m.
Courtesy: Will Bratton