Men's Wrestling 2024-25 Season Preview

FROSTBURG, Md. - Frostburg State Athletics will be taking a preview for each team competing in the Winter season, covering six total sports. Throughout the next week, each team will be broken down into their expectations, key players, and overall outlook for their season and program. Next up to conclude this week is Men's Wrestling.
 
Overall
Frostburg State Men's Wrestling is preparing for their second-ever season at the Division II level, having been revived as an athletic program last season.  Head Coach Josh Hutchens returns to lead the program for his second season, as he is happy to have back assistant coaches Blake Heim and Brian Davis, while also welcoming graduate assistant Tyler Dilley to the coaching staff. 
 
Last Season
The Bobcats had a remarkable first season in DII, finishing with a 14-13 overall record, while going for a 4-2 mark in the MEC.  In their first match of the 2023-24 season, FSU picked up a strong win over Wheeling with a 38-13 final for their first win in Division II, and their first win in conference.  Frostburg started their season 4-0, with MEC wins over Fairmont State and Notre Dame College as well, while then taking first place out of seven teams in their first invite of the season.  The Bobcats faced multiple teams and heavy competition throughout their first year, taking on four dual meets and one clash, while finishing fourth in the MEC Championships out of seven teams.  Frostburg finished sixth out of 11 teams in the NCAA Regional Tournament, with Thierno Diallo, Duncan Kammar, Nick McCarthy, and Gavin Bage all placing.  Diallo and Bage went on to represent FSU in the NCAA National Tournament, as Diallo placed eighth in the NCAA DII Championship tournament, receiving All-American honors to round out the season.  From the classroom, the Bobcats had four athletes become the first-ever Scholar All-Americans for the program, with Zach Alkhatib, Kammar, Mark Matysek Jr., and Austin Slaybaugh earning the distinction.
 
The Returners
Having a solid roster in 30 athletes last year, Hutchens is ecstatic to bring back 19 returners.  With mostly freshman last season, Hutchens brings back a solid amount of the now sophomore class with Bage, Kammar, Alkhatib, Matysek Jr., and Slaybaugh all returning, as well as William Applegarth, Mason Buckler, Joe Colony, Gage Heilbrun, Logan Intrieri, Griffin Thurfield, Shawn Traynham, and Charles Turney.  Owen Lehman returns as a redshirt freshman, having not competed last year, as Dylan Montgomery and McCarthy enter the season as redshirt juniors.  Diallo makes his way back the mat as a senior, alongside William Longhurst, as graduate student Alex Blake looks to make a name for himself in a Bobcat uniform, having had an injury prior to the start of the season last year.  During the preseason, Bage was ranked fourth in his weight class in the NWCA Regional Rankings, while being placed in the top 20 in The Open Mat NCAA Division II Rankings.  Starting the preseason off strong, Blake was placed fifth in his respective weight class by the NWCA.
 
The Newcomers
Looking to take the program to new heights, Hutchens adds an extensive 24 athletes to the roster, with a tremendous freshman class of 19, and five transfers/newcomers as well.  The freshman class takes up eight weight classes, while the five transfers each represent their own.  Redshirt freshman Garhett Dickenson comes from West Virginia University, while redshirt sophomore Noah Reho transferred in from Bloomsburg.  Sirr Bannister joins the team as a sophomore, while redshirt junior Nico D'Amico comes from Queens (NC), and graduate Owen Butler comes from Indianapolis.  Planting their mark early, Butler was ranked second in his weight class in the NWCA Regional Rankings, going for 14^th in The Open Mat Division II Rankings.  Reho was spotted fifth by the NWCA, while Butler took sixth, both in their respective weight classes as well. 
 
Kick Off to Season
FSU starts their season at the Glenville State Invite at 9 AM on Saturday, November 2.  The Bobcats then compete in their home opener, welcoming MEC opponent Wheeling to the mat on Wednesday, November 6 at 7 PM.  Frostburg plans to participate in one dual this season in Hampton, VA, before coming home to host the Bobcat Duals on Sunday, January 19, where the team will see Shippensburg, Pitt-Johnstown, and Belmont Abbey.  The MEC Championships will be held on Saturday, February 1 at 9 AM in West Liberty, WV.
 
For more information and upcoming previews, please visit frostburgsports.com.