A season of firsts for Eph wrestling ends with numerous academic honors
Eph contingent at 2009 NCAA Championships (l. to r.): Carl Breitenstein, Ethan Cohen, Raf Vega, Corey Paulish, Ryan Malo, Dan DiCenzo & Dylan Rittenburg
5 Ephs named Scholar All-Americans/Ephs repeat as National Academic Team Champions and post highest team finish at NCAA Championships
A year ago Williams wrestling had four wrestlers named Scholar All-Americans and this year the Ephs increased that total to a Williams best five wrestlers in one year.
This season's Eph honorees include: senor captain Ethan Cohen, junior Nathan Shippee and sophomores Jon Foster, Josh Mattana and Corey Paulish.
Cohen and Shippee earned the honor for the second year in a row.
To receive Scholar All-American honors from the National Wrestling coaches Association (NWCA) an athlete must be at least a sophomore and have a 3.2 cumulative GPA and meet one of the following wrestling performance standards.
The wrestler must be a national qualifier (Paulish)
or
be a conference place winner, with a minimum of a .500 record, and have competed in a minimum of 50 % of the team's regular season dates (Cohen, Mattana, Foster)
or
have a 67% winning percentage and have competed in a minimum of 50 % of the regular season dates (Shippee)
Williams won the Scholar All-American Wrestling Team National Championship for the second year in a row with a 3.54 team GPA. RIT was second with a 3.51 GPA. The Ephs' previous highest finish before winning in 2008 and 2009 was ninth place. Out of the 22 wrestlers on the Williams team, 18 have over a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
"As a former Williams student I know how challenging the academic life is at Williams and that makes me very proud of all the academic awards our team has been recognized for this year," commented co-head coach Dan DiCenzo. "The professors at Williams are constantly challenging the students at Williams and making them be fully engaged in their education."
"What makes the Williams College experience special is the people at the college," DiCenzo stated. "So far this year I have emailed or called nine professors about meeting with prospective student-athletes or allowing a prospective student-athlete to sit in on a class and every time the professor was extremely helpful and supportive. The student-athletes at Williams know when they come to Williams that their academics have to be their number one priority. Fortunately, our wrestling team does an outstanding job of understanding this and they balance their academic and athletic commitments well."
"Coach Vega and I are very appreciative of the outstanding leadership provided by our three senior captains – Kyle, Ayer, Ethan Cohen and Mike Penza – who were responsible for instilling the proper work ethic and commitment to wrestling for the younger team members," said DiCenzo.
Eph notable performers this season:
Ethan Cohen, senior captain (125) - 35-8 (Career: 122 - 36). Two-time Scholar All-American, Four-time All-NEWA (one of only four in the program), 2008 125 NEWA Champion and Outstanding Wrestler at 2008 NEWA Championships.
Mike Penza, senior and two-year captain - 13-11 (Career: 50-44).
Josh Mattana, sophomore (133) - 20-20 (Career: 51-7) 2009 All-NEWA, Placed 6th at NEWA Championships in a very competitive weight class.
Corey Paulish, sophomore (141) - 40-9 (Career: 63-17) two-time All-NEWA, 2nd in NEWA Championships as a freshman and was NEWA Rookie Wrestler of the year, NEWA champion as a sophomore and a national qualifier, finishing fourth and earning All-American honors.
Jon Foster, sophomore (165) - 18-14 (Career: 39-24) All-NEWA in 2009 with a 3rd place finish. NEWA's 165 champion this season was Mike Morin of USM who finished 4th at NCAAs. Foster lost to Morin three times this season by less than four points in each match.
Nate Shippee, junior (184) - 14-7 (Career: 39-23) Two-time Scholar All-American.
Kyle Ayer, senior captain (184) - 20-13 (Career: 78-38) and was a three-time All-NEWA wrestler in his career. Kyle placed 4th as a freshman and junior and took 2nd this year.
Dylan Rittenburg, junior captain (149) - 39-14 (Career: 90-45) placing at NEWA Championships for the third time (6th as a freshman, 2nd as a sophomore (national qualifier), 3rd as a junior and a Scholar All-American in 2008.
Carl Breitenstein, junior (157 37-11 - (Career: 88-33), placing at NEWA for the third time (5th as a freshman and sophomore and 3rd this year) Scholar All-American in 2008.
Ryan Malo, sophomore (197) was 39-2 - (Career: 39-2), a 2009 NEWA champion beating All-American Joe Silverman MIT (7th in the country) three times this year including twice at the NEWA Championships. Ryan won the Ursinus Fall Brawl, Doug Parker Springfield Tournament and the prestigious Simpson Invitational. Malo earned All-American honors with his second place finish at the NCAA Championships, tying the best Eph finish set by Tom Prairie '05 (125) in 2005. Set Eph single season mark for pins in a season in 2009 with 24, leading all three NCAA divisions.
"I think what Corey [Paulish] and Ryan [Malo] did in their first trip to the NCAA Championships is a great accomplishment," said DiCenzo. What makes both student-athletes such great wrestlers is neither of them is satisfied with how he placed. They both wanted to be national champions. I feel they are happy with what they accomplished but know that they can still reach their goal of becoming national champions. That constant competitiveness and drive is something that makes great athletes become elite athletes."
"Looking back on the season and all the accomplishments that our student-athletes achieved this year as a team is impressive, but we as a team expected it. Raf [Vega, co-head coach] and I have a team that is willing to work hard and strive to get better every day in and out of the season, on the mat and in the classroom. We are proud of how well they represent Williams College."
Program firsts established in 2008-09:
Seventh straight year scoring at NCAA Championships
Most wins one season 19 (19-4-1)
Most career wins 122 by Ethan Cohen '09
1st outright NEWA title
First top 10 national finish (10th)
Most Scholar All-Americans in one season: 5
Back-to-back Scholar All-American Wrestling Team National Champions
Corey Paulish most wins in a season 40 (40-9)
Ryan Malo set a Williams record with most pins in a season 24 – leading the nation (all divisions)
First time eight Eph wrestlers ranked in New England at season's end:
Ethan Cohen (125)
Josh Mattana (133)
Corey Paulish (141)
Dylan Rittenburg (149)
Carl Breitenstein (157)
Jon Foster (165)
Kyle Ayer (184)
Ryan Malo (197)
