2006-07 Ephs

Doug Washington '08

Third year head coach Raf Vega guided the Ephs to a record of 13-7 on the yea and a fifth place finishe at the New England Championships and 30th place at the NCAA Championships. Two wins in particular stood out in the regular season -- a 30-15 conquest of perennial New England power Springfield and a 20-16 upset of #22 ranked Bridgewater State.

The good news for Vega is that while he loses three-time All-American Jon Dolan to graduation he will return five wrestlers who earned All-New England honors.

Dolan, a three-time New England champion, finished fourth at the NCAA Championships at 174 and earned All-American honors for the third consecutive year – a Williams Division III first – in earning honors at 165 (1) and 174 (2). His three consecutive years as an All-American puts him on top of the Eph all-time list with Tommy Prairie '05 (125).

Dolan earned his first All-American honor as a sophomore at 165 and the last two seasons he competed at 174. Dolan posted his best finish of his career on the national scene this winter. Dolan posted a career mark of 80-12

Sophomore Ethan Cohen will be the top returnee next season as he finished 3rd at 125 at the New England Championships. First year Carl Breitenstein at 157 and junior Doug Washington at 165 both finished fifth in New England.

First year Dylan Rittenburg at 149 and junior Nic Miragliuolo at 141 placed sixth to earn sixth place and all-region honors.

2006-07 Season Outlook

Kyle Ayer '09

If a 14-9 record and a fifth place finish at the New England Div. III championships is enough to excite a coach about his future prospects, then having your team come into the first practice in the best shape of their lives is an excellent bonus.

”The team came into the first practice with a high intensity level and seems to be more goal-driven,” said Vega. “The team as a whole has a clear vision of what they want to accomplish.”

Head coach Raf Vega begins his third full season as head wrestling coach with a team that was on a mission in the off-season. Led by junior captains Max Pinto and Nick Miragliuolo, the Williams College wrestling team went through a grueling training program to make sure that when November 1st rolled around they were in peak physical condition. Both Pinto and Miragliuolo have been a big presence in the preseason and both hope to contend for New England titles and a trip to the NCAA championships. Pinto was fifth in New England last year at 184.

From top to bottom, this Eph squad features depth not only at each weight class but in every class year. Headlining the list of returnees is senior Jon Dolan. After a junior year where he finished 20-4 and placed 6th at the NCAA Championships, Dolan looks to lead by example and make good on being ranked fifth in the country at 174 in the preseason polls.

Ethan Cohen '09

Last year's impressive first year class returns top performers Ethan Cohen, Mike Penza, and Kyle Ayer. These sophomores look to build on their success in last year’s regular season and the New England championships, while continuing to make strides to help the rising Eph program. Ayer took fourth at 197 and Cohen was sixth at 125 at last winter’s New England Championships.

The Ephs will also look to benefit from one of the biggest first year classes in a while. Coach Vega is expecting big things from this new group, especially Dylan Rittenburg (141) and Carl Breitenstein (149). This first year class is expected to play a huge role this season and for years to come.

Another interesting aspect for the new season is the depth at heavyweight. Usually this weight class produces one wrestler a year, but the Ephs are fortunate to feature three quality athletes in junior Jim Bierman and first years Nate Shippee and Mike Eckerle. The Ephs look to make the heavyweight bout a major strength this season.

The Ephs will get to showcase their talents in the first weekend of the season on November 18th at the Doug Parker Invitational hosted by Springfield College. Williams is ranked ninth overall in all divisions in the New England region (5th in Div. III) and the Parker Invitational will be a great opportunity to get a look at the other teams Williams will face during the season.

England Collegiate Conference wrestling Championships (NECCWA). Sophomore Max Pinto had a breakout season at 184 and posted a record of 27-8 and finished 5th in New England. First year Kyle Ayer also impressed with his strong finish to the season, compiling a record of 17-10 and finishing 4th at New Englands. Junior captain and two-time All-New England honoree Jon Dolan will also return. Dolan won the New England 165 title as a sophomore and came back to win the 174 title this year.
Dolan then earned All-America honors for the second year in a row, placing 6th at the NCAA Championships. Dolan was 20-4 on the year.

Assistant coach Dan DiCenzo was named the New England region's assistant coach of the year at the NECCWA Championships. DiCenzo '01, a former wrestling captain for the Ephs as well as football captain, was an All-New England wrestler for the Ephs.

Jon Dolan '07

 It's easy to lose weight — just turn on your television and you'll be bombarded with ads for surefire products that will take off the pounds in a hurry. Most people who diet will tell you the trick though is to keep the weight off.

Losing weight and keeping it off is all well and good, but just doing that won't work for the Ephs' Jon Dolan. Dolan, a starting linebacker for the Ephs last fall and a captain-elect for 2006, plays football at one weight and then drops his weight to be nationally competitive in wrestling in the very next season on the calendar.

Dolan, an All-American at 165 (seventh place) last year, claims that it is not difficult for him to lose weight, but the key for Dolan is to maintain his strength while taking off the pounds.

Dolan loves to compete, so losing to win would not seem to fit his personality and yet that is exactly what the two-sport standout has done for eight consecutive years. Through four years at Lowell [MA] High School, a post-graduate year at Phillips Exeter Academy and for three years at Williams, Dolan has fought the battle to lose weight and maintain strength. You don’t get voted a co-captain of the wrestling team as a junior if you don't love to compete.

Football is a demanding sport that punishes the body and following it up with another sport that may be the most demanding sport in college athletics is a tough task. Football ends on the second Saturday in November every year at Williams and wrestling practice begins November 1st. So Dolan is a good three weeks behind most of his teammates when he finally gets on the mat, as are four other Ephs who double up in football and wrestling. He is also five weeks behind the rest of the Div. 3 wrestlers who do not compete in football because they can begin practice on October 15th.
Dolan takes almost 48 hours off between seasons. "I usually have that Sunday [after the Amherst game] and Monday to myself and then I start running and working out outside the wrestling room with the other football/wrestlers," said Dolan. "I usually don’t get into the actual wrestling room until a week after the football season."

Dolan reported to football practice in August weighing just under 195. "Throughout the football season I usually drop about 7-10 pounds and once November first comes I start working on getting my weight down so I know I will be on target for my weight for wrestling in January."

For Dolan to compete at the levels he desires he has to walk a fine line between being a tad on the small side for his position in football and being as strong as he can at his best weight in wrestling.

Dolan vs. Amherst in 2007

"I would categorize Jon as a classic 'tweener'," said Eph linebacker coach George McCormack. "He could be classified as a bigger safety or a smaller LB as far as his weight is concerned. As far as his play is concerned, he is very instinctual and is a good tackler. His greatest strengths in football are quickness, intensity and toughness, which help him overcome any weight disadvantage he may face from the opposition. Offensive linemen are routinely in the high 200's or low 300's as far as weight is concerned, and if you let them get into you it's not a pretty sight. “Jon has done an excellent job of either beating their blocks or staying low and shocking them with his hands or shoulders to give himself the separation necessary to make the play."

Compounding the task to lose weight and maintain strength is the fact that the Williams academic calendar is not very forgiving. Less than four weeks after football ends and right at the beginning of the competitive wrestling season final exams arrive to complete the fall semester.

"It is both mentally and physically tough to lose the weight," said Dolan. "Physically the weight fluctuation can be harsh. It is mentally tough especially at a school like Williams because balancing academics and athletics is not easy. Usually after a season you will get some time to catch up on work but when you have back-to-back seasons you don’t get that opportunity and you really have to stay on top of things. Wrestling is also a very mentally draining sport along with being physically demanding. A lot of wrestlers will tell you that wrestling is 50 percent mental. From experience I would definitely say this is true. As a wrestler you build expectations for yourself and it is often mentally draining living up to these expectations. Staying mentally tough is a key aspect of the sport of wrestling."

The NCAA has strict guidelines about athletes losing weight to compete in wrestling, all geared to the safety of the athlete. "The NCAA calculates body weight, body fat and hydration levels and puts them into a formula that tells you how much weight you are allowed to lose,” Dolan said. “Once they determine your minimum weight you are allowed to lose no more than 2 pounds a week.”
Last winter Dolan competed at 165 and won the New England title, earning a berth in the NCAA Championships. He finished seventh at the NCAAs and earned All-America honors. This season Dolan will be competing at 174.

Under NCAA rules Dolan needs to be down to his competition weight by January 18th and he cannot lose more than two pounds a week. That leaves 10 weeks to lose 12-14 pounds, maintain strength and keep up with the studies to prepare for the final exams of the fall semester.

Dolan at 2005 NCAA Championship

After exams there are no academic demands until January, but that still means you have to make it through the holiday season in December and New Year's when most families have plenty of food around for celebrating. Assuming, of course, you did not gorge yourself over Thanksgiving break. For Dolan the answer is to stay active and eat healthy. "I jog a lot!, " he said. "It’s not all that bad. I just try not to do what everyone else does…. stuff myself all in one sitting. I just eat healthy meals and in moderation."

"Since I started cutting weight it has become a little easier each year," Dolan claims. "Well maybe not easier but as the years pass I have learn how to do it more efficiently and in a healthier manner."
Back in high school Dolan tried some of the products advertised on TV as quick weight loss products and found that while he could lose weight quickly it did not really help, because he could not maintain his strength. "I remember trying things like low carb diets, high protein diets and even diet pills. As time goes on I have come to learn that none of these things work that efficiently. They worked for a quick 10 or 15 pounds but did not help me retain the energy and strength levels I needed to compete in wrestling.

“Basically what I have figured out is that the best way to go about it is to just eat balanced meals with smaller portions. Between the vigorous workouts and the reduction in caloric intake I'm usually able to make it down to my desired weight while remaining healthy and strong."

Former Olympic gold medal wrestler Kendall Cross gave Dolan a weight loss trick that he now fully subscribes to. "I eat five meals a day," Dolan says. "The trick is to split your three meals up into five small meals. By doing this you can keep your metabolism going and burn a greater amount of fat."
"Losing weight is not exactly a competition in itself but it is definitely a large part of competing in the sport of wrestling right after you've completed a football season," said Dolan. Wrestling is a one on one sport and that is why it is so competitive. Wrestlers go to great lengths just to get the slightest advantage over their opponents and if it means losing 5 or 10 more pounds then any wrestler with a passion for winning will make the sacrifice."

Eating a balanced diet for Dolan means eating the kinds of foods that will help his body be at it's best. " I avoid all junk food, said Dolan. "Once you start to eat healthy for a long period of time you have no desire to pollute your body with useless sugars and fats. Most of my meals consist of a good lean source of protein, some carbohydrates to replenish my muscles, and some fruits or veggies."

Throughout the football and wrestling seasons Dolan is also very mindful of what he drinks as well and he keeps his liquid intake simple. "I avoid soda and I consume mostly water and some Gatorade after practice or a match."

Every Wednesday throughout the wrestling season Eph head coach Raf Vega weighs his athletes to keep track of possible weight variances that could indicate potential problems. Wrestlers typically lose a lot of water weight in a single workout and sometimes those losses are not replace properly and problems can sneak up on a wrestler. "Jon is very strict with himself on his eating and conditioning and he is always on top of his weight," said Vega.

Dolan is off to a 3-0 start this season at 174 and is ranked No. 1 in New England, but his progress on the mat was curtailed one week due to an injury, so he is not expected to be a full strength for another week or so. No one at Williams doubts that Dolan will be ready to put his best efforts forward at the New England Championships Feb. 18 –19 in his quest to earn a berth in the NCAA Div. 3 championships for a second year in a row.

Vega said he expects that when Dolan gets over his current slight injury he will again be a force to be reckoned with in New England and nationally at 174. "He's an all-around wrestler: good on his feet, has great takedowns which he always capitalizes on and is an excellent rider with a lot of pinning combinations," said Vega. "He has all the tools to be an All-American at 174."

Those who know Jon Dolan know that he is not 'losing to win' just to get on the mat – his goal is to compete and to win.

Jamall Pollock '96

Jamall Pollock '96 was inducted into the New England Collegiate Conference Wrestling Association (NCCWA) Hall of Fame in February of 2007. Pollock was a three-time New England champion and earned All-America honors twice. He is the first Eph to be named to the NECCWA Hall of Fame.

A four-year letterman, Pollock, graduated as one of the most prolific wrestlers in Williams history. He was a four-time All-New England performer as well as a four-time New England finalist. He posted a career mark of 104-14. Pollock was the first Williams wrestler to reach the 100 win milestone.

As a freshman Pollock recorded an individual record of 23-4 and finished Ephs' second at the NECCWA championships at 158 pounds. The Ephs finished with a 12-1 regular season record good for a second place team finish in the conference. The Ephs also received their first national team ranking (20th).
Pollock's sophomore season he posted an unblemished record -- 25-0 -- including a first place finish at the NECCWA championships at 150 pounds.

In his junior year Pollock went 27-5 and again won at the NECCWA conference championships, but this time at 158 pounds. He went on to place eighth at the NCAA Div. 3 championships to earn All-American honors. The Eph team finished with a dual meet record of 13-0. It was the first undefeated season at Williams since 1949. The Ephs won the New England Championships for the first time in school history and were ranked as high as 16th nationally.

In his final year Pollock compiled a record of 29-5. He again won at the NECCWA conference championships, this time at 167 pounds. Pollock then went on to earn his second All-American honor with a fifth place finish at the NCAA Div. 3 championships.

Pollock was elected captain of the Eph wrestling team in both his junior and senior years and was also chosen to tour in the Ukraine as a Division 3 All-Star upon graduation.

In addition to being an outstanding wrestler, Pollock was also a four-year letterman in football and he still holds the Eph single season rushing record of 1,293 yards. As a senior Pollock was named the ECAC New England Football Player of the Year, the NESCAC Offensive Football Player of the year, a New England Football Writers' Division II/III All-Star and was named to the Hewlett-Packard Division III All-America Team.

After College Pollock served as a high school teacher and coach in New Jersey and he currently works as a curriculum coordinator for a non-profit after school program for students of color in the New York City area.

Since its inception in 1923, wrestling has enjoyed many successes. Most notably the three straight New England titles 1948-50.

Since that time Williams wrestling has continued with its rich and revered tradition of commitment and excellence both on and off the mat, thus finding itself once again as one of the premiere New England programs in the 1990's.

In 1995, the Ephs tied for the New England Championship, sharing the honor with W.P.I. At the 2000 NECCWA Championships the Ephs finished second just behind Springfield. Seven wrestlers earned 2000 All-New England honors, highlighted by Conan Leary '02 winning the 184-pound championship. Head coach Mike Whalen was also awarded Coach of the Year in the New England College Conference.

In 2003 Williams wrestling finished tied for 17th place at the NCAA Division III Championships held at Ohio Northern University. It marked the first time in the program's history, an Eph squad finished the year ranked in the top 20 nationally. Sophomore, Tom Prairie, from Delran, NJ (PG, Blair Academy), led the way for the Ephs with an impressive 30-1 record and a national 3rd place finish at 125.

The 2003-04 Ephs suffered through a regular season that was injury-plagued, but put it together at season's end to show what they were capable of. The Ephs finished a surprising third in New England. At the NECCWA championships junior Tom Prairie repeated as the region's 125 champ, senior Dan Jacobs took top honors at 133, senior Gus Whyte was third at 174 as did classmate Justin Sullivan in the heavyweight class, while first year Lars Ojukwu was fourth at 174 and all five captured All-New England honors.

Assistant Coach Raf Vega was named the 2004 NECCWA Assistant Coach of the Year.

By virtue of their New England titles, both Prairie and Jacobs advanced to the NCAA Championships where Prairie garnered All-America honors for the second year in a row with a fourth place finish.

All-Americans Prairie (l.) & Dolan with coaches (l. to r.) DiCenzo, Whalen & Vega

The 2005 Ephs finished fifth at New Englands with Prairie winning at 125 and Dolan at 165. Prairie and Dolan became the first Eph duo to finish as All-Americans in the same NCAA Championship meet when Prairie took second and Dolan was seventh. The Ephs posted their best NCAA finish coming in 12th.

Dan DiCenzo was named he NECCWA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2006 and Dolan captured his second New england title, winning at 174. The Ephs were fifth at New Englands and with Dolan's sixth place finish at 174 at the NCAAs the Ephs came in 35th.

Dolan again led the Ephs to fifth place at New Englands by winning his third straight New England title and his second straight at 174. His sixth place finish at the NCAAs gave him the distinction of becoming the first Eph to become an All-American in two weight classes and tied him with Tom Prairie for most All-American fiishes at three.

With the addition of Springfield College in 1996, the 15-team New England Wrestling Conference is the largest Diviison III qualifier. Other top teams in the conference include Trinity, Norwich, WPI, U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Litte Three rival Wesleyan.

The season begins November 1 and our first competition is a tournament at Springfield College on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. We also schedule a dual meet tournament the first weekend in December, which includes Princeton, NYU and Roger Williams. During the month of January our students are involved in "Winter Study" and must take one class. This is the time when the majority of our competitions take place. We make a serious effort to schedule teams outside of New England. Currently we wrestle The College of NJ, Montclair State and Simpson College (IA) - all finish in the top 15 in the country annually.

Frequently Asked Questons:

Is wrestling a large time commitment?

The philosophy at Williams is simple; academics always come first. However, we will demand that wrestling is a close second on your list of priorities. Practice will never start before 4:30pm in order to avoid class conflicts. The length of practice will vary, but will never exceed two hours. The majority of away meets are limited to weekends, with an occasional short weeknight trip. Our program has produced 19 Scholar All-Americans in the last ten years and has traditionally posted one of the highest team GPAs on campus.

Can I participate in more than one sport at Williams?

Yes, many of our wrestlers participate in a second sport. Currently we have athletes involved in football, baseball, track and rugby. And if our wrestlers aren't competing in a second varsity sport, they are usually involved with some type of intramural activity.

What is the future of Williams Wrestling?

My goal is for our wrestling program to become competitive at the national level. Several other programs at Williams are ranked nationally, indicating this is an achievable goal. But in order to reach this level, we must recruit outstanding student-athletes who are willing to challenge themselves and their teammates.

What can a wrestler hope to achieve in four years at Williams?

Each student-athlete who enters our program will be challenged in the classroom and on the mat. When their collegiate career comes to a close they will have reached their full potential as a wrestler and at the same time, earned a degree from one of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the country.

Wrestling All-Americans

100 Career Wins