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Discussion Topic: Q&A with Notre Dame head coach Frank Romano
Dan Cosimi added to this discussion on July 10, 2007
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Q&A with Notre Dame head coach Frank Romano
Dan Cosimi - OhioWrestling.Net
July 10, 2007
Today I got to catch up with Notre Dame College head coach Frank Romano. Romano's youthful Falcons are ranked 17th in the preseason NAIA national rankings and have a beefed up lineup and schedule and a ton of potential.
Can you give us a projected lineup?
125: We have true freshman Dante Rini, a state runner-up [and three-time state placer] from Massillon Jackson.
133: We have three state champions that will be fighting for the starting spot. Returning starter Anthony Caruso was a state champion in 2003 for Beachwood. Tyler Savage, who redshirted last year, was a state champion for Carlisle in 2005 [and was an NHSCA Senior National All-American]. Also, Bryce Freeman, a state champion from Berkshire and a transfer from Kent State, will compete for the spot here.
141: Brett Freeman, a NAIA national qualifier, is the returning starter at this class. He was a state runner-up [and two-time state placer] from Berkshire.
149: We have another returning starter, Nathan Spencer, a state finalist at Newbury who transferred to Mayfield and placed twice in D1.
157: NAIA national qualifier, Jason Spencer, who was a match away from becoming an All-American last year. He was a state placer from Mayfield.
165: True sophomore Ken Sanger, a state finalist [and two-time placer] from Lutheran West is a returning starter. We are signing three-time state placer Mike Mahon from Cincinnati Moeller tomorrow. He could push Sanger. We also have Brian Cornell from Bedford who is tough, good kid and will fight for the spot.
174: Cory Braden, a state placer from Norwalk St. Paul could start at this class.
184: Chris Tripp, a state champion, three-time placer, and NHSCA Senior National All-American from University High School and formerly Boston University, was ranked as high as third in the nation last year before running into some difficulties. He will be very good this year.
197: Justin Tripp, a two-time state placer from CVCA, will battle returning starter Jason Flynn from Eastlake North for the spot.
285: We have returning NAIA All-American Nick Terifaj from Strongsville and Anthony Watson, a state placer from Sandusky, competing for the spot at this weight class.
After he left Ohio Northern, there was a lot of talk about Wadsworth state champion Tim Miller joining the team at Notre Dame. Is there truth to that?
Yes, that was a true statement. He was practicing with us all last semester. Right now he has some other stuff to get done. He is very talented, ranked as high as third in Division 3 during his freshman year at Ohio Northern. He would surely fight for the starting spot at 174 if he comes back.
When going over this lineup I notice you don't have very many upperclassmen which is great for the future.
Yes, they are all freshmen or sophomores. It's the coach's job to bring in the best talent he can into his wrestling room. Then they can work it out themselves. At the same time, ethics are very important in recruiting. You have to be fair to your recruits... and truthful. If you are fair to your student-athletes you get their trust and that's how you establish a good program.
Speaking of youth and recruiting, who is in the NDC recruiting class of 2007?
Here is a list from my board. We are still recruiting so you may see some transfers sign on as well.
119: Dante Rini (Massillon Jackson)
119: Spencer Campbell (Sandusky Perkins)
125: Bryce Freeman (Burton Berkshire 2005)
125: Charlie Heber (Akron St. Vincent St. Mary)
135: Joel Jenkins (Burton Berkshire)
140: Matt McGovern (Columbus St. Francis DeSales)
140: Nick Bodnar (Austintown Fitch 2005)
140: David Nelson (Gahanna Lincoln)
145: Dylan Campbell (Delaware Hayes)
152: Graham Richardson (Burton Berkshire)
152: Brian Weidenthal (Austintown Fitch)
152: Mark Smilek (Massillon Jackson)
160: Mike Mahon (Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller)
171: Kurt Wolff (Genoa)
171: Paul Kordich (North Royalton)
189: Matt Kuti (Austintown Fitch)
That sounds like you have a big roster.
Yes, we'll have 45-50 kids in the room.
What is the NDC schedule like for the upcoming season?
Our schedule is tough. We're getting quality matches every week. We open our schedule with a dual against Ohio State on November 3 at 2:00 at a neutral site. We are the home team, but we will dual them at Maple Heights High School. Obviously we're not on the level of a team and finished eighth in the nation in Division 1 and returns four All-Americans, but when Tom Ryan approached me about this we both agreed that it would be a great opportunity to showcase both teams and college wrestling in general to the public of the Cleveland area. Jamie [Milkovich, Maple Heights head coach] has been great about helping to make this to happen. Charlie Keenan, a state champion from Steubenville and former Buckeye wrestler, is the superintendent at Maple Heights as well and he is all for it.
Some of the notable events we will be going to are: the Cleveland State Open, the Edinboro Open, the Ashland Open, and the Simonson Invitational at Ashland University. We have two NAIA triple-duals at Campbellsville University in Kentucky in January. [Editor's note: They will wrestle Ohio's newest college team there, the University of Rio Grande.] We also were able to get into the National Catholic Invitational. At the end of the season, again we have the Regional Tournament (national qualifier) at Cumberland University in Tennessee and NAIA Nationals in Sioux Falls, Iowa.
We also have a great opportunity to get in the national duals. They take the top sixteen teams to that event and we are currently ranked #17 in the nation. If one team backs out, we're in. It would be a great opportunity for our wrestlers. Division 1, 2, 3, NAIA, and NCWA are all at the same location. It is one of the premier events in all of college wrestling.
What are your thoughts about having a dual with Cleveland State as something like "The Battle of Cleveland"?
That would be great. Jack Effner is a great wrestling guy and always has been. I'd love to set up a dual with Cleveland State in the future.
After Mark Hawald moving on to become the new head coach at Mount Union you had an assistant coaching spot open. Who is on the staff for this coming year?
We hired Ryan Simmons as the assistant coach. He wrestled for me at Kent State University and was the team captain. In high school he was a state champ at Lake Catholic, which is where he has been coaching for the past four years. Anthony Ralph also returns as an assistant.
You finished in the top twenty last year in ranking and at the national tournament. What are the expectations for this year?
As Woody said in a speech a hundred years ago, "you win with people." That's still true. We have all the right people in place and we expect to do very well this season.
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Discussion Topic: Q&A with Notre Dame head coach Frank Romano
Brendan Moody added to this discussion on July 11, 2007
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I didn't hear about Simmons getting that job. Good choice, and best of luck to him and the team this year. Plus, I know that I would pay money to see a dual with Cleveland State and ND; I hope it can happen in the next year or two.
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