LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nine months after completing its first season in Division I, the Bellarmine wrestling program will have a full slate in its second year at the highest level of college competition.

The quick success at the Division II level after the program began in 2016 was impressive – sending wrestlers to the DII national championships and earning a national ranking competing in one of the toughest conferences in the country.  Then, just five years into its existence, the program transitioned to Division I and is now ready to take another step forward as a program.

"I couldn't be more excited for the season and our team's future," Knights Head Coach Ned Shuck said.  "I'm impressed by their progress, attitude, and effort.  Fans can expect to continue to see them make leaps and bounds in their wrestling performances and their level of FIGHT!  The guys are going to bring an exciting style of wrestling for everyone to enjoy and appreciate."

Shuck begins his first season becoming the second head coach in the short history of the program, which launched in 2016.  Shuck spent the previous three seasons at Army West Point, the latter two of which he was the associate head wrestling coach after being promoted in 2019-20. In all three years of his tenure, the Black Knights had seven wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championship.

Prior to his stint at Army West Point, Shuck spent four years at the helm of Wisconsin-Whitewater, guiding the Warhawks to a 47-17 record in duals and finishing in the top 25 each year at the NCAA III Championships.

Shuck wrestled at the University of Iowa from 2000-05, earning a degree in elementary education. He was a four-time letter winner and three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection for the Hawkeyes.

He is joined by new assistant coach Brendan Murphy.  Murphy was previously the assistant wrestling coach at McKendree University in the Great Lakes Valley Conference from 2016 through the spring of 2021. He also attended Southern Illinois Edwardsville where he wrestled for the Cougars.  With SIUE, Murphy was a two-time NCWA national champion.  Most recently, Murphy received his PhD in business from Trident University.

Shuck and Murphy will guide the Knights through the Southern Conference (SoCon), representing a challenging battlefield in Division I.  Perennial contenders Campbell, Appalachian State, and Chattanooga were all ranked in the mid-major top-20 poll last season and present an excellent opportunity for Bellarmine to compete against top-tier opponents.

"The SoCon is a really strong conference, and all of the teams seem to be on the rise right now," Shuck said.  "This dual meet season is going to be a great challenge for our team and a challenge that we are excited about! However, Sunday the 7th against SIUE and Indiana University is the first thing on our mind.  We can't wait to pack Knights Hall to kick off the season!"   

The Knights were limited to just 10 meets last season due to the pandemic with eight of those coming against SoCon competition.  This year, Bellarmine has 16 meets with seven scheduled at Knights Hall.  Much more non-conference action is on tap including the season opening tri-meet with Indiana and SIUE at home.  Trips to George Mason, Purdue, SIUE, Cleveland State, and the Mat Mayhem Open at the Kentucky Exposition Center represent other non-conference action.

Bellarmine's first conference dual is against Appalachian State on Dec. 19, while four of the final six matchups are SoCon home duals.

With 77 career wins, senior Eric Beck (165) enters the season seven shy of all-time program leader Gage Branson. He's the program's career wins leader at both 157 and 165. Beck went 6-4 in his first season in Division I, ranking second on the team in victories.  He made history by recording Bellarmine's first ever DI win on Jan. 10 against SIUE.  Beck previously ranked top-10 nationally (DII) in falls in 2019-20 and earned honorable mention All-GLVC in 2018-19.

Junior Devan Hendricks (174) led the Knights with seven wins and two falls last season, including a season-capping win against Chattanooga on Feb. 5. He set a single-season program record for victories at 157 with 20 coming in that weight class as a freshman in 2019-20.

Senior Brandon Lucas (125) brings more valuable experience as a senior.  Lucas earned a berth in the NCAA DII Championships in 2018-19 and is tied for fourth all-time with 42 career wins. Both Lucas and Beck were named to Bellarmine's All-Decade Team, and Lucas was voted Wrestler of the Decade in an online poll.

Sophomore Logan Hoskins (141) was tied for third on the team in wins last year going 3-2 with one fall.  All three wins came consecutively against The Citadel, Presbyterian, and Gardner-Webb.
 
Junior Mitch Collica (149) also nabbed three victories, and Academic All-Conference honors.  Sophomores Chase Yost (149) and Easton Tobia (157) are other returners with multiple wins last season.

This year's roster also includes seniors Charlie Cadell (285), Joshua Craig (174), Corbin Hale (149), Corey Knoth (165), and Samuel Woolf (184). 

Other juniors are Max Dansereau (133), Alex Rivera (157), while the sophomore class is rounded out by Kyle Berg (174), Darian Huff (184), and Sam Schroeder (184). 

The newcomers are comprised of Jude Camancho (133), Zac Cowan (149), Kysen Montgomery (133), William Muckler (Heavyweight), Cole Nance (157), Jack Parker (125), Noah Rowlett (174), and Bryant Wilkinson (197).

Bellarmine's season opening tri-meet begins at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday at Knights Hall. BU first takes on SIUE at noon followed by Indiana at approximately 3:30 p.m.  The meet will be available to watch on BU Knights Sports Network.

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