March 12, 2007

FAIRFIELD, CT - Payam Zarrinpour will be Sacred Heart University's lone representative at the 2007 NCAA Wrestling Championships. The Pioneers finished 5th in the 11 team CAA, landing in the top half of the standings for the fifth consecutive year.

True freshman Paul Galipeau (133) and junior Andrew Silber (184) placed 4th at the qualifier for the NCAA's. The Pioneers tallied 41.5 points to finish ahead of Boston University (29.5), Binghamton (28), George Mason (25) as well as James Madison, Campbell and Wagner. Hofstra dominated the tournament with seven champions, Old Dominion, Rider and Drexel round out the top four.

The team entered the tournament without an entry at 125 pounds and without senior captain Sherwood Fendryk (165). Fendryk, a 3x CAA placer and a NCAA qualifier, was injured in mid-January and was not able to recover for the tournament. "This team competed very well considering we didn't have Sherwood. He almost definitely would have been a finalist and NCAA qualifier this season. He is our leader, as well as, the heart and soul of the team," said Coach Andy Seras.

Zarrinpour dominated the field with a pin; a major decision and a 6-4 win over Chris Cowen of Drexel. Zarrinpour holds a 6-0 career record versus Cowen. Zarrinpour heads to the NCAA's this year as a three-time CAA Champion and four-time NCAA qualifier, both firsts for the Sacred Heart program. He holds the career wins record at 122 and counting. "Payam was in control the whole tournament. He is ready for the nationals," said Seras.

Galipeau and Silber both wrestled to their seeds in the tournament. Galipeau tallied two pins; including one over third seeded Joe Whitaker of Boston University. Galipeau finishes the season with ten victories as a true freshman, including seven by fall, despite limited action. Silber, a junior, has shown consistent improvement since coming to SHU. He won two bouts and finishes the season with 18 wins, good for second on the team.

Freshman Cory Dunn (141) and junior Kevin Fox (197) finished in the top six of the conference. Dunn ends his first year with 17 wins and a very bright future. "Cory needs to learn how to finish moves and matches off better; he is very close to making some major noise. If he pushes himself he will make the jump he needs to become an All-American," commented Seras. Fox, a red-shirt junior, was healthy for the first time since his freshman year, finishing with 12 victories. Fox nearly pinned NCAA qualifier David Mendoza of Old Dominion in the quarter final and reversed a loss earlier in the season to James Bartley of JMU by a score of 15-3 in the consolation rounds.

Chris Davis (149), Mike Hartman (157), Ricky Nappi (165) and Jed Giguere (174) all competed hard but fell short of the top six. All of the team members who competed in the CAA Championship will return next year except for Zarrinpour.

Payam will wrestle at the Palace at Auburn Hills, March 15, 16, 17. He will attempt to be Sacred Heart's first All-American since the programs inception in 1999.