LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Starting Saturday, Bellarmine wrestling is ready to embark on its third season in the Division I era and seventh in program history.
 
Last year marked the first full slate of DI competition for the Knights.  Now, Bellarmine will have its second season with a complete DI schedule, paired with the second year of Ned Shuck's tenure as head coach. 
 
Shuck and assistant coach Brendan Murphy guided the Knights to wins over SIUE and Presbyterian last year and are excited about starting the upcoming season.
 
"We're excited to kick off the 2022-23 season and see how our upper-classmen lead the way with our big group of freshmen in our first competition of the year," Shuck said. "Although some of our key experienced guys will be out, our upper-classmen will have the opportunity to bring the brotherhood culture we have created in the practice room to a full-day tournament. There will be plenty of opportunities for them to mentor our first year guys as they start their collegiate careers. I can't wait to see that in action!"
 
The coaches have been busy recruiting and adding to the Bellarmine roster.  The Knights have 33 wrestlers on the roster this season, including 19 freshmen. 
 
"This freshman group is bringing a ton of energy and competitiveness to our program," Shuck added. "I love how their attitudes are filled with gratitude! You can see it in how they are approaching mastering their craft and enjoying every moment of training leading up to their first opportunity representing the Knights this weekend! I can't wait for our fans to see these guys compete."
 
Another added piece to the program is graduate assistant Noah Hardy who was brought on staff over the summer.
 
"We are pumped to have Noah with us and continue to build our staff," Shuck said.  "It was clear throughout the hiring process that Noah has a passion for coaching and a skill-set that is really going to compliment our staff and give our wrestlers the best experience here at Bellarmine.  These hires are the foundational steps we need to take our program to the next level."

Hardy is a McMurray, Pa. native and competed at Peters Township High School.  He took his talents to Division III Concordia Wisconsin, where he wrestled in weight classes 165-197.  With the Falcons, Hardy was a four-year letter winner, three-year starter, team captain his senior season, and was named to the honor roll twice.
 
Bellarmine lost eight seniors from last year's team, including the program's all-time winningest wrestler Eric Beck.  Beck concluded his career with 92 wins and led the Knights with 16 victories last season.  Several key pieces from last year's team return, however, as Bellarmine returns 70 percent of its individual victories from last season.  
 
Senior Devan Hendricks ranked third on the team with 15 wins last year at 165 and totaled a team-best three tech falls – he currently ranks fifth in program history with 44 career wins.  Sophomore Cole Nance tied Beck for first on the team last year with 16 wins at 157 and produced four pins.  Junior Sam Schroeder (12 wins last season at 184), sophomore Jack Parker (10 victories last season at 125), and senior Mitch Collica (nine wins at 149) also return.
 
The mix of veterans and newcomers will compete 17 times this season, including eight SoCon duals.  Defending champion Campbell along with Appalachian State both finished in the top-15 of the mid-major rankings last season and present an excellent chance for Bellarmine to compete against strong competition in the conference. 
 
Before Bellarmine's SoCon-opening dual at App State on December 20^th, the Knights will compete four times.  BU opens its season at the Pepsi Patriot Open this Saturday hosted by the University of the Cumberlands in Corbin, Ky.  The Knights then travel to the Ohio Intercollegiate Open on Nov. 13 in Cleveland, before the Lindenwood Open on Nov. 19 in Saint Charles, Mo. 
 
Bellarmine's first of six home duals is Nov. 30 versus Lindenwood at Knights Hall, starting at 7:00 p.m.  Following their SoCon opener at App State on Dec. 20, Bellarmine rounds out the calendar year with the Solider Salute Collegiate Wrestling Tournament Dec. 29-30 in Coralville, Iowa.  The Knights then hit the mat on Jan. 6 for the Mat Mayhem Open at the Louisville Expo Center. 
 
Bellarmine follows that with eight consecutive duals, starting Jan. 13 at Gardner-Webb.  The Knights stay in North Carolina to face Davidson on Jan. 15 before returning home to take on Queens on Jan. 21.  BU stays at home for their next three duals with matchups against VMI on Jan. 27, Campbell on Feb. 10, and The Citadel on Feb. 11.  The Knights round out SoCon action with a road dual at Chattanooga on Feb. 17 and home showdown against Presbyterian on Feb. 23.  Bellarmine is also scheduled to compete in the Great Lakes Conference Championships on Feb. 25 and National Collegiate Wrestling Championships March 9-11.
 
This year's roster also includes senior Alex Rivera (157), junior Logan Hoskins (141), junior Darian Huff (184), and junior Easton Tobia (157).
 
Other sophomores are Zac Cowan (149), Kysen Montgomery (149), William Muckler (Heavyweight), Noah Rowlett, and Bryant Wilkinson (197).
 
The large freshman class consists of Nathan Chirillo (174), Trayce Eckman (133), Chase Hall (149), Royce Hall (184), Tavius Hosley (157), Thaddeus Huff (Heavyweight), Nik Jimenez (157), Shay Korhorn (125/133), Lucas LeClerc (174), Kolby McCoy (165), Carson Nishida (133), Grant O'Dell (165), Gray Ortis (157), Devon Rahrig, Damion Ryan (133), Michael Schiffhauer (149), Edwin White (141), Keenan Wyatt (184), and Kennedy Wyatt (184).

Bellarmine's first action is Saturday at the Pepsi Patriot Open.  The Knights will compete against 30 other teams from Kentucky, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, Minnesota, Indiana, Arkansas, and Virginia. 

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