a

Flyers Soar to New Level

     The Dayton Club Wrestling Team was established in 2005 by current President of the Club Scott Kelly.  Having a varsity team up until the mid 1980's, the University of Dayton was forced to disband the wrestling team with the introduction of Title IX.  Dayton remained without a team until Scott Kelly came along.  In 2005 the university was in the process of opening a new recreation complex.  Kelly circulated a petition and got enough signatures in support of a club wrestling team.  With the opening of the complex, Dayton agreed to purchase a wrestling mat and allow for the formation of a club wrestling team.  Unfortunately, the wrestling mat did not arrive until late December, the middle of the wrestling season.  For the 2005-2006 season the wrestlers trained, but did no participate in any competitions.

 

The 2006-2007 season set up a good foundation for the Flyers.  They did not send anyone to Nationals, but they managed to attract many promising recruits.  During the off season Kelly began his plans to expand the team.  The hiring of Eric Blosser was Kelly's first step. Eric Blosser was officially named the coach of the University of Dayton's wrestling team in April of 2007. His plans were to attack the 2007-08 season with a new, more serious tone. Blosser emphasized conditioning and molding a winning attitude to become one of the top teams in the North Central conference.

     Blosser's plan went into action in the fall of 2007.  With a talented freshman class, the Flyers made a name for themselves at a number of competitions.  Placing in the top two in each of their first two tournaments, the Flyers were lead by upperclassman Scott Kelly (165) along with freshmen: Jared Crasto (133), Craig Blike (141), Matt Hammer (157),  and John Puttmann (174).  Crasto, Blike, and Puttmann all qualified for Nationals in Lakeland, Florida.  Coming one match short of being named NCWA All-Americans, Crasto and Blike finished in the top 10 in the nation.  Blike lead the team with a 19-7 record, recording a team high 11 pins.

     The Flyers have great plans for the future.  Returning all wrestlers from the previous year for the 2008-2009 season, they look to fill empty weight classes with young, incoming talent. 

 

More Wrestling Sites	Weather
Club Wrestling University of Dayton Division I Wrestling  Division II Wrestling Division III Wrestling Cliff Keen Athletics	Dayton, OH
Flyer Fotos	Contact Information
Photos from Conference and National Tournaments	Any questions, please feel free to contact the following Scott Kelly (President)  Craig Blike ( Vice President/ Web Master)