Those unfamiliar with wrestling might find it strange that this somewhat obscure public school (I believe its official name is Edinboro University of Pennsylvania) a stone’s throw from Lake Eerie is perennially one of college wrestling’s very best teams.
I actually write about Edinboro wrestling somewhat regularly; Some of their alumni have gone on to prominent MMA careers, and I just find the unlikely phenomenon of Edinboro wrestling fascinating; the program achieves so much despite its disadvantages. The school boasts a remote location, bad weather and little name recognition. Furthermore, in this day and age, many top Division I wrestling programs have palatial, state-of-the-art practice facilities replete with flat screen televisions, plush customized locker rooms and natural lighting. Meanwhile, Edinboro’s older, more modest accommodations in the basement of an athletic building resemble something from a Division II school, which makes sense as Edinboro is a Division II school, other than its wrestling program.
Head Coach Tim Flynn (the man with the magnificent forehead pictured above) lets his school’s low profile work in his favor; he knows that the young athletes who show up at his school only have one thing in mind. They aren’t coming to Edinboro for the glitz, or the glamor, or the night life, rather, they come to Edinboro to become a national wrestling champions, something the school produces with frightening regularity.
This year Edinboro returns more team points than any other team in the entire nation. Every major player is back from last year’s fifth place finish, Including the incomparable lower-weight trio of A.J. Schopp at 133 pounds, Michell Port at 141 pounds and David Habat at 149 pounds. These wrestlers placed 4th, 3rd and 4th at last year’s NCAA tournament, respectively.
On top of their three big guns, the Fighting Scots sport three more wrestlers with the potential to make big waves come time for nationals. 125 pounder Kory Mines has notched some big wins in the past, 184 pounder Vic Avery has a wealth of experience and transfer 157 pounder Austin Matthews was also an NCAA qualifier in 2014.
Thanks to D1collegewrestling.net, we present Edinboro’s likely lineup:
125-Kory Mines (Sr) 2014 NCAA Qualifier
133-Aaron Schopp (Sr) 2014 NCAA 4th Place, 2013 NCAA 4th Place, 2012 NCAA Qualifier–Round of 12
141-Mitchell Port (Sr) 2014 NCAA 3rd Place, 2013 NCAA Runner-Up, 2012 NCAA Qualifier–Round of 12
149-David Habat (Sr) 2014 NCAA 4th Place, 2013 NCAA Qualifier, 2012 NCAA Qualifier
157-Austin Matthews (So) 2014 NCAA Qualifier
165-Kasey Davis (Sr)
174-Patrick Jennings (Jr)
184-Vic Avery (Jr) 2014 NCAA Qualifier, 2012 NCAA Qualifier
197-Vince Pickett (Jr)
285-Billy Miller (Fr)
Points breakdown
I picked Schopp to win it all this year, and Port to make the finals, so even if Habat finishes lower this year, Edinboro’s big three should still net well over 50 points in March. Good runs from a couple of the remaining members of the lineup could very easily lift that total to the mid 70s or higher.