UNCP wrestling sends five to nationals

By Joel Beachum
Staff Writer

UNCP wrestling finished fourth overall and five Braves qualified for the NCAA Division II Nationals at the NCAA East Regional in Johnstown, Pa. Feb. 25-26.

Curry Pickard (133), Dwayne Coward (165), and Derek Brunson (184) each won their respective weight classes to qualify for nationals. Andrew Steed (149) and Aaron Gunning (157), who took fourth and second in their respective weight classes, also qualified.

The top four qualifiers in each of the 10 weight classes now go on to the nationals, to be held on March 11-12 at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Overall, UNCP finished behind third-place Shippensburg, runner-up Mercyhurst and East Regional champion Pittsburgh-Johnstown.

UNCP had to keep its focus for the last two weeks, not having wrestled after a cancellation from Anderson College.

“The Ed South Tournament (held at Carson Newman University) helped us to get ready for the regionals,” UNCP head wrestling coach P.J. Smith said.

The season to date has been a success by all accounts as four seniors - Pickard, Coward, Gunning and Lewis Polley will have accounted for over 350 Brave victories for their career after this season.

Smith has been pleased with the overall performance of the team, especially the leadership given by the senior class.

He said that they have all had stellar careers and they still have another step to take.

As a team, UNCP had a 7-4 regular season. Within that time, three wrestlers - Pickard, Coward and Brunson have all reached high national rankings: (Pickard - No. 1), (Coward - No. 2) and (Brunson - No. 3), respectively.

Both Coward and Brunson won championships in their weight classes during the Ed South Tournament.

Pickard, Coward and Roylando Lucas were regional champions for their weight classes in 2004. Coward and Brunson were regional champions in 2003.

Pickard, Coward and Brunson were All-Americans in 2002-03 and Coward was an All-American last season for the Braves.

Along with Brunson, a junior from Wilmington, the Braves have had a number of talented first, second and third-year wrestlers in the program over the season.

Junior Devon Daniels has had a good season. Polley, wrestling in the heavyweight division, and Gunning, wrestling in the 157-pound weight class, have done outstanding for UNCP. Gunning now has a career mark of 93-42. Steed, Justin McIntyre and Bruce Dulski have all garnered big wins for the Braves in competition.

Two other wrestlers, Adam Dedmon (125), Alfonzo Richardson (174) and Reggie Faire (197) made the trip to Pittsburgh over the past weekend.

Five nationally ranked teams were in competition over the weekend - Pittsburgh-Johnstown (No. 5), Mercyhurst College (No. 8), Shippensburg University (No. 9), Kutztown University (No. 15) and Gannon University (No. 17).