Newcomers strengthening men’s wrestling lineup for season-opening tournament at Messiah

Saturday, November 4

Grantham, PA

10:00 AM

Liberty University Club Sports

Messiah Invitational

Graduate Josiah Murphy is a two-time defending NCWA Grand National champion at 197 pounds, where the Flames feature the most depth of any weight class. (Photos by Chase Gyles)

Newcomers strengthening men’s wrestling lineup for season-opening tournament at Messiah

11/2/2023 12:53:00 PM | Men's Wrestling

The Flames return nine All-Americans complemented by a strong recruiting class that will help Liberty contend for its fifth NCWA National Duals and Grand National titles in six seasons.

The nine returning All-Americans on this year's Liberty University men's wrestling team have been challenged and sharpened by the strongest incoming class of recruits and transfers in recent memory.

That bodes well for the Flames, with a 35-man roster that could contend for the fifth NCWA National Duals and NCWA Grand National championship crowns in the past six seasons in early January and March, respectively.

"It will be interesting," said Liberty Head Coach Jesse Castro, who is assisted by Josh McIlhenny. "There are a lot of untested areas, but this should be one of our better teams in terms of depth, for sure. Our goal is to have two of the best wrestlers in the country at each weight class."

The Flames will have to confront at least four programs transitioning to the NCAA Division I and II ranks next season, including defending NCWA National Duals and Grand National champion Bellarmine (Ky.) University (DI), Lindenwood (Mo.) University (DI), Queens (N.C.) University (DI), and Emory & Henry (Va.) College (DII).

Wrestling-Coach-Castro-cheering — Head Coach Jesse Castro cheers on his team at last season's MAC Championships.

"The NCWA will be stronger than it's been in recent years," Castro said. "Lindenwood is going to be right up there with Bellarmine, and it is going to be highly competitive across the board.

There are a lot of unknowns in terms of our own division," with Emory & Henry and Queens now in the Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC) mix along with perennial runner-up Apprentice School from Newport News, Va.

He noted the Flames did lose a number of quality wrestlers, including graduate students Dante Minnino at 125 pounds and 235-pounder Jeffrey Allen, who became Liberty's all-time winningest wrestler and joined Castro (a four-time NCCAA titlist from 1977-81) as the Flames' only four-time national champions.

"Losing Jeff and Dante is huge, as they were solid bookends there," Castro said. "Reloading like we have … it's looking so far, so good. Making weight will be a key, and we have guys struggling at that, for sure, that we've got to keep an eye on."

That includes three-time-defending heavyweight national champion Rick Weaver, a graduate student, and senior Seth Ellsmore at 235 pounds, who have both spent the fall semester on the Flames Football team.

"I've never had that before (wrestlers competing in another sport in-season), and I'm not sure what kind of condition and mental state they will be in," Castro said of when they rejoin the wrestling team for the spring semester. "Wrestling requires a different kind of conditioning (from football), and the weight factor alone for Rick will be huge. It will be impressive to see him get down to maximum weight (285 pounds) for us."

Weaver will be backed up by sophomore heavyweight Joshua Herrmann and complemented by graduate Josiah Murphy, who is going for his third national championship at 197 pounds.

"Those are our two main hitters," Castro said, noting that the Flames are deepest at 197, where Murphy is backed up by Carder Miller, a freshman who took a year off last year and is going to surprise many, and Timothy Goddard, a senior from New England who is going to be another dark horse. "I can't wait to see these guys compete."

At 235 pounds, Ellsmore will spar with Campbell University and Emory & Henry transfer Wade Wheeler, a sophomore graduate of nearby Amherst County High School, Allen's alma mater. Wheeler was on Liberty's roster last spring, but not eligible to compete due to NCAA transfer rules.

Another transfer, graduate Reid Stewart — son of Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame wrestler Warren Stewart, who will serve as an assistant coach for the Flames — placed third as a freshman at Liberty in 2017-18 before spending the next three seasons at Presbyterian (S.C.). Castro believes he will be a wrecking ball at 157 pounds.

"He's kind of a secret weapon," Castro said of Stewart. "He's a great example, maturity-wise and with his work ethic. I'm really looking forward to seeing him compete."

Wrestling-All-Americans — Liberty returns nine All-Americans from the NCWA Grand Nationals in Puerto Rico.

At 184, the Flames feature junior Gabe Hayes, who placed sixth at nationals last year. Sophomore Zach Kaminski is coming off a third-place finish at nationals at 174 pounds, and Liberty also returns senior David Over, a national finalist at 165 pounds two years ago who placed eighth last year. Senior 149-pounder Garrett Good, who missed last season with an injury, hopes to return to the form he had as a sophomore when he finished fifth at nationals. The Flames feature another All-American at 141 pounds, Blake Schmitt, who placed fourth as a freshman last spring, with current freshman recruit Jakob Brown sparring with him "tooth and nail" in the practice room.

Castro is excited to see his freshmen in action for the first time at the collegiate level this Saturday, when the Flames travel to the season-opening Messiah Invitational in Grantham, Pa.

"They're very young, but very talented, and I am optimistic about them," he said.

At 133 pounds, freshman Jahleel Armstrong is dueling for the starting spot with returning All-American Chase Arnestad, who bumped up from 125 this fall.
"That's going to be a battle there, knowing how talented Jahleel is," Castro said.

At 125 pounds, freshman Aiden Scheeringa is "going to be a force to be reckoned with as he progresses," Castro said. "He is a very talented, experienced guy, and I think he will fill in well for Dante Minnino."

Murphy, Kaminski, and Over will serve as the Flames' team captains, with Kaminski, senior 157-pounder Connor McCann, and sophomore 165-pounder Jordan Scott their spiritual leaders.

Castro has witnessed the Flames bond more tightly together since eight team members were baptized at Hydaway Lake in September.

"That's been awesome," he said. "I have been really, really pleased with our bonding and the closeness of our team. It's been cool to watch develop. We have a team Bible study and also break them up into accountability groups, with each of our upperclassmen having three guys they are accountable for. That has worked out really well, not just in terms of academics, but in their personal issues and with spiritual issues."

At Messiah, Liberty will be pitted against nine other teams, mostly NCAA Division III programs, including the host Falcons, Wheaton (Ill.), Elizabethtown (Pa.), John's Hopkins (Md.), McDaniel (Md.), Ursinus (Pa.), and Washington & Lee (Va.), one of the favorites, along with NAIA Cornerstone (Mich.).

The tournament will be the first of eight held outside of Virginia that Liberty will travel to in a span of four months. Between now and the Messiah Open, exactly three months later on Feb. 4, the Flames will travel by bus to the St. Louis area from Nov. 17-18 for the Lindenwood Open; Grand Rapids, Mich., on Dec. 1-2 for the Blithe Duals at Cornerstone; and fly to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for the Dec. 29-30 Citrus Classic and Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the Jan. 5-6 NCWA National Duals.

Then, after visiting Beckley, W.Va., for a tri-match on Feb. 9 and hosting the MAC Championships in search of a 12th consecutive team title on March 2, qualifying wrestlers will fly to Shreveport, La., for the March 14-16 NCWA Grand National Championships.

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video by Kylee Lilge/Club Sports Video & Media Coordinator