Here's the thing. If I had to put money on it, I'd play it safe and say that Edinboro sends three to the NCAA championships this season. Yet, here's the thing...The Fighting Scots are capable of sending as many as seven. (If Tyler Vath was still on the team, believe it not, I'd say eight. However, I'm pretty sure he graduated and is not going to take the extra year of eligibility.) It's simply a matter of guys stepping it up a notch & performing to their ability.
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| 133 Tye Varndell Sophomore Record: 21-17 |
Varndell has some really ugly losses thus far in his career. Guess what? He also has some pretty notable wins. Along with beating R12 Zach Price of South Dakota State, he has also defeated NCAA qualifiers Tim Rooney of Kent State, Bryce West of Northern Illinois and Mario Guillen of Ohio. Consistency is key here. It's winning when he's supposed to win, garnering a few upsets and avoiding losses that should be wins.
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| 141 Gabe Willochell Freshman Record: 13-3 MAC: 21'5th |
I think the Scots picked up a good one when they signed Willochell. I think as his career progresses he'll do some good things for the program. An 11-3 victory as well as a fall in 5:27 over two time NCAA qualifier Derek Spann of Buffalo, I was a bit surprised that he didn't qualify for the NCAA's last season. Being a "free be" year, I say Willochell still earns four NCAA qualifications by the time his career is said and done.
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| 157 Peter Pappas Junior Record: 56-31 MAC: 21'5th |
A match away from NCAA qualification last season, Pappas has a lot in common with Varndell. You can point out his ugly losses, but you can also point out his notable victories. Along with beating EIWA champion Holden Heller of Hofstra twice, he also owns wins over NCAA qualifiers Mike Van Brill of Rutgers, Graham Rooks of Indiana and Izzak Olejnik of Northern Illinois. Again, consistency is key. It's stepping it up a notch, winning those tossup matches & avoiding losses that he shouldn't lose. He does that, he's an NCAA qualifier.
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| 174 Jacob Oliver Junior Record: 75-25 NCAA: 19'NQ, 20'NQ, 21'NQ EWL: 19'2nd MAC: 20'7th, 21'3rd |
For the past three seasons, Oliver has been a rock in the Fighting Scot program. A three time NCAA qualifier, Oliver stands a very good shot at being an MAC champion this season. He'll contend with Mason Kauffman of Northern Illinois who he is 2-1 against. All of their matches thus far have come down to sudden victory or tiebreakers.
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| 184 Ethan Duca Freshman Record: 10-8 |
Going out on a limb here, but Duca does have the ability to have a decent season and qualify for the NCAA's. He owns a win over George Walton of Rider, who will also contend for NCAA qualification this season himself.
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| 197 Cody Mulligan Sophomore Record: 35-23 |
As with Duca, again going out on a limb, but Mulligan too has the ability to put together a decent season & qualify for the NCAA's. He owns a 5-3 victory over Gage Braun of Southeastern (who competed for Northern Illinois at the time). He'll need more victories like that.
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| HWT Jon Spaulding NCAA: 20'NQ, 21'NQ MAC: 20'2nd, 21'4th |
Another staple in the Edinboro program the past couple of years has been Jon Spaulding. A two time NCAA qualifier, he'll contend for MAC runner-up honors with SIUE's Colton McKiernan who he has already defeated 3-0. Whoever comes up on the losing end of that likely semi-final match, should easily take 3rd.
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7 NCAA qualifiers? The program sure as Hell could use it. A team that placed 5th in 2014 & 3rd in 2015, the Scots went from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the ocean in a matter of a few short years. I don't see taking home a team trophy, I'm not insane, but the Fighting Scots are better than 63rd and 58th in the NCAA. Oliver winning an MAC title, Spaulding making the MAC finals and Willochell, Varndell, Pappas, Duca and Mulligan all stepping it up a notch, you have yourself a pretty respectable team.
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