NCAA champion Jordan Oliver of Oklahoma State hails from Easton, Pa. and is among the dozens of college stars from the Northeast on display at the Grapple at the Garden. Larry Slater photo Big-time Div. I college wrestling is coming to the Northeast this weekend, with the inaugural Grapple at the Garden scheduled for world-famous Madison Square Garden in New York City, Sunday, December 16. A field of 14 Div. I programs will compete in two rounds of dual meet action, providing fans a chance to see numerous ranked teams and individuals. With seven programs currently ranked in the top 25 in the NWCA Coaches Poll released today, and up to 65 nationally ranked individuals on the rosters, this will be a display of college wrestling at its best. The Northeast region of the nation takes great pride in the quality of wrestling in its high school programs, as well as the individual athletes who move on to wrestle at the major college level and even the Olympic level. When you discuss wrestling hotbeds in the United States, arguments can be made for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York as being top producers of wrestling talent. Wrestling is a big deal in this part of the country. Many of the teams coming to New York are located in other parts of the nation, including programs from the Midwest and Southern states. A look at the rosters from the teams in the field shows a large number of athletes and coaches who have strong roots from the Northeast. An example of this is one of the stars who fans are paying to see in the Garden, three-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake of Cornell. He was a product of Lansing High School in Ithaca, N.Y., and chose to stay at home to pursue his college legacy. One of the stars returning home to compete in the Northeast is 2011 NCAA champion Jordan Oliver of Oklahoma State, who made big news as a prep star competing for Easton High School in Pennsylvania. A pair of New Jersey stars who left the region for college and return home this weekend are No. 6 James Green of Nebraska at 157 pounds and No. 8 Andrew Campolattano of Ohio State at 197 pounds. Both were New Jersey state champions, Green for Willingboro and Campolattano for Bound Brook. Long Island, just a train ride to the Garden, has produced some ranked wrestlers in the field at the Grapple at the Garden. Hofstra’s Steve Bonanno, ranked No. 18 at 125 pounds, is from Wantaugh, while Cornell’s Nick Arujau, ranked No. 17 at 133 pounds, is from Syosset. Even some of the less heralded states in the region have produced top talent on display this weekend. Holding a No. 5 national ranking at 285 pounds for Iowa is Bobby Telford, a product of St. Marks High School in Delaware. Connecticut is represented by No. 15 Richard Perry of Bloomsburg at 197 pounds, who attended Middletown High School. Those who have a great memory, or enjoy wrestling history, will also appreciate that many of the coaches in the field have Northeast roots. Among the head coaches on the sidelines from this region are: • Ohio State’s Tom Ryan, who is from Wantaugh, N.Y. • Cornell’s Rob Koll who is from State College, Pa.. • Maryland’s coach Kerry McCoy, from Middle Island, N.Y. • Rutgers coach Scott Goodale from Jackson ,N.J. • Hofstra’s Rob Anspach, from Pine Grove, Pa. • Bloomsburg’s John Stutzman from New Castle, Del. The assistant coaching ranks of these teams are also full of Northeast region products. Included are past NCAA champions Zach Esposito from Three Bridges, N.J with Oklahoma State, Damion Hahn from Lakewood, N.J. with Cornell and Frank Molinaro from Barnegat, N.J. with Rutgers. The wrestling community is aiming for a big turnout on Sunday. Many people will be travelling long distances to be part of this big event, but the potential for a large crowd comes from the surrounding states where wrestling is considered an important sport. The goal is to help college wrestling become a regular attraction at Madison Square Garden in the future. Those local wrestling fans who make the effort to be there will see not only top stars from all around the USA, but many talented college wrestlers who come from close to home. To purchase tickets, visit: http://www.thegarden.com/grapple GRAPPLE AT THE GARDEN at Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y., Dec. 16 Local Northeast athletes/coaches by team (NY, NJ, CT, PA, RI, MA, NH, ME, DE, MD With current AWN individual rankings) No. 2 Oklahoma State 149 – No. 2 Jordan Oliver, Easton, Pa./Easton Assistant Coach – Zach Esposito, Three Bridges, N.J. No. 4 Ohio State 184 – Kenny Courts, Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin 197 – No. 8 Andrew Campolattano, Bound Brook, N.J./Bound Brook HWT – No. 12 Peter Capone, Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City Head Coach – Tom Ryan, Wantagh, N.Y. Associate Head Coach – Lou Rosselli, Middleport, N.Y. No. 5 Iowa 174 – No. 11 Mike Evans, Enola, Pa./Blair Academy (N.J.) 285 – No. 5 Bobby Telford, Hockessin, Del./St. Marks Volunteer Assistant – Kurt Backes, Neshanic Station, N.J. No. 7 Missouri None No. 8 Cornell 133 – No. 17 Nick Arujau, Syosset, N.Y./Syosset 141 – No. 7 Mike Nevinger, Perry, N.Y./Letchworth Central 149 – No. 18 Chris Villalonga, Totowa, N.J./Blair Academy 149 - Ryan Dunphy, Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley 157 - Chris Dowdy, Millstone, N.J./St. Benedicts Prep 165 – No. 1 Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y./Lansing 184 - Craig Scott, Palmyra, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon 184 – Steve Bosak, State College, Pa./State College Area 197 - Billy George, Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch Head Coach – Rob Koll, State College, Pa. Assistant Coach – Damion Hahn, Lakewood, N.J. Volunteer Assistant – Mike Grey, Rockaway, N.J. No. 14 Nebraska 157 – No. 6 James Green, Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro 197 - Caleb Kolb, Grove City, Pa./Grove City Assistant Coach – Brian Snyder, Easton, Pa. No. 18 Maryland 133 – No. 11 Geoffrey Alexander, Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy 141 – Frank Goodwin, Pasadena, Md./Arundel 141 - Danny O'Malley, Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East 149 - Lou Mascola, East Hanover, N.J./Seton Hall Prep 157 - Danny Orem, Glen Burnie, Md./Mount St. Joseph 157 – Brady Massaro, Severna Park, Md./Mount St. Joseph 165 - Josh Snook, Bear, Del./St. Marks 174 – No. 5 Josh Asper, Parkton, Md./Hereford 174 - Aaron Norris, Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman 184 – No. 9 Jimmy Sheptock, Northampton, Pa./Northampton 197 – No. 13 Christian Boley, Brockport, N.Y./Brockport 197 – Ty Snook, Bear, Del./St. Marks 285 - Carl Buchholz, Malvern, Pa./Great Valley 285 – Dallas Brown, Wolsville, Pa./Delone Catholic Head Coach – Kerry McCoy, Middle Island, N.Y. Head Assistant Coach – Todd Beckerman, Crofton, Md. Assistant Coach – Mike Catullo, Oakmont, Pa. Volunteer Assistant – Chris Vitale, Nazareth, Pa. Bloomsburg 125 - Sean Boylan, Seaville, N.J./St. Marks (Del.) 133 – No. 19 Nick Wilcox, Greene, N.Y./Greene Central 141 - Matt Rappo. Holland, Pa./Council Rock South 141 - Simon Kitsis,Newton, Mass./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 149 – No. 20 Josh Roosa. Mountaintop, Pa./Crestwood 165 - Josh Veltre, Rochester, N.Y./Greece Olympia 174 - Kevin Hartnett, Staten Island, N.Y,/Monsignor Farrell 184 - Andre Petroski, Glenn Mills, Pa./Springfield 197- No. 15 Richard Perry, Meriden, Conn./Middletown 285 – No. 15 Justin Grant , Easton, Pa./Easton Head Coach – John Stutzman, New Castle, Del. Assistant Coach – Danny Song, Hauppauge, N.Y. Bucknell 125 - Austin Miller, Mt. Joy, Pa./Hempfield 141 - Derrik Russell, Jackson, N.J./Jackson 149 - Adam Healey, Wilkes Barre, Pa./Wyoming Seminary 157 - Vincent Favia, Brick, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy 157- Robert Schlitt, Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield 165 - Corey Lear, Orangeville, Pa./Benton Area 197 - Tyler Lyster, Wanamassa, N.J./Ocean Township 285 - Joe Stolfi, Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Assistant Coach – Jim Gibson, Hermitage, Pa. Assistant Coach – David Marble, Harpursville, N.Y. Chattanooga Assistant Coach – Rocco Mansueto, Middletown, N.Y. Drexel 141 - Frank Cimato, Yardley, Pa./Peddie School (N.J.) 149 - Nicholas Maccini, Cumberland, R.I./Cumberland 149 – Shane Fenningham, Bethlehem, Pa./Northampton 157: - Kenyatta Brown, Gwnynn Oak, Md./Woodlawn 157 – William Long, Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley 165 - Charles Aungst, Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove Area 174 - Kevin Matyas, Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City 184 - Bryan Sternlieb, Toms River, N.J./Toms River East 197 – No. 19 Brandon Palik, Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley 285 - Jon Max Wright, Springfield, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon Assistant Coach - Zach Sheaffer, Carlisle, Pa. Assistant Coach - Tyler Nauman, Middletown, Pa. Hofstra 125- No. 18 Steve Bonanno, Wantaugh, N.Y./Wantaugh 133 - Jamie Franco, Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury 149 - Matt Spataro, Garfield, N.J,/Bergen Catholic/Western New England 157 - Justin Accordino, Wilkes Barre, Pa./Coughlin 157 - Cody Ruggirello, Walden, N.Y./Valley Central 165 - Nick Terdick, East Northport, N.Y./John Glenn 174 - Jermaine John, Brooklyn, N.Y./Bethpage 197 - Victor Pozsonyi, Roselle Park, N.J./Roselle Park 197 - Tim Murphy, Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth/Edinboro 285 - Paul Snyder, Greenburg, Pa./Mt. Pleasant Area Head Coach Rob Anspach, Pine Grove, Pa. Head Assistant Coach Zach Tanelli, Millburn, N.J. Assistant Coach Ryan Patrovich, Islip, N.Y. Assistant Coach Dan Vallimont, Lake Hopatcong, N.J. George Mason 125- Rich Lavorato, Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell 157- Jaaziah Bethea, Trenton, N.J./Trenton Central 165- Ty Knepp, Paxonville, Pa./Midd-West 174- Ryan Hembury, Muncy, Pa./Muncy Rutgers 125 - Joe Langel, Howell, N.J./Howell 133 - Vincent Dellefave, Toms River, N.J./Toms River East 141 - Trevor Melde, Hewitt, N.J./DePaul Catholic 149 - Mario Mason, Moorestown, N.J./Blair Academy/Minnesota 149 - Ken Theobold, Toms River, N.J./Toms River South 157 – No. 20 Scott Winston, Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial 165 - Anthony Volpe, Miller Place, N.Y./Rocky Point 165 - Nick Visicaro, Long Branch, N.J./Long Brance 174 – Greg Zannetti, Edison, N.J./J.P. Stevens 184 – No. 13 Dan Rinaldi, Lodi, N.J./Lodi 197 - Dan Seidenberg, Red Bank, N.J./Red Bank 197 - Hayden Hrymack, Lincroft, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy 285 - Billy Smith, Wantage, N.J./High Point Head Coach – Scott Goodale, Jackson, N.J. Assistant Coach – John Leonardis, Sea Girt, N.J. Assistant Coach – Frank Molinaro, Barnegat, N.J. Volunteer Assistant – Joe Pollard, Heightstown, N.J. Local Northeast athletes/coaches by state and weight Connecticut native 197- Bloomsburg – No. 15 Richard Perry, Meriden, Conn./Middletown Delaware natives 165 - Maryland - Josh Snook, Bear, Del./St. Marks 197 – Maryland - Ty Snook, Bear, Del./St. Marks 285 – Iowa – No. 5 Bobby Telford, Hockessin, Del./St. Marks Head Coach – Bloomsburg - John Stutzman, New Castle, Del. Maryland natives 141 – Maryland - Frank Goodwin, Pasadena, Md./Arundel 157 - Maryland - Danny Orem, Glen Burnie, Md./Mount St. Joseph 157 - Drexel - Kenyatta Brown, Gwnynn Oak, Md./Woodlawn 157 – Maryland - Brady Massaro, Severna Park, Md./Mount St. Joseph 174 – Maryland – No. 5 Josh Asper, Parkton, Md./Hereford 174 - Maryland - Aaron Norris, Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman Head Assistant Coach – Maryland - Todd Beckerman, Crofton, Md. Massachusetts natives 141 - Bloomsburg - Simon Kitsis,Newton, Mass./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 149 - Hofstra - Matt Spataro, Garfield, N.J,/Bergen Catholic/Western New England 285 - Drexel - Jon Max Wright, Springfield, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon New Jersey natives 125 – Bloomsburg - Sean Boylan, Seaville, N.J./St. Marks (Del.) 125- George Mason - Rich Lavorato, Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell 125 - Rutgers - Joe Langel, Howell, N.J./Howell 133 - Rutgers - Vincent Dellefave, Toms River, N.J./Toms River East 141 - Bucknell - Derrik Russell, Jackson, N.J./Jackson 141 – Drexel - Frank Cimato, Yardley, Pa./Peddie School (N.J.) 141 - Rutgers - Trevor Melde, Hewitt, N.J./DePaul Catholic 149 - Cornell – No. 18 Chris Villalonga, Totowa, N.J./Blair Academy 149 - Cornell - Ryan Dunphy, Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley 149 - Maryland - Lou Mascola, East Hanover, N.J./Seton Hall Prep 149 - Hofstra - Matt Spataro, Garfield, N.J,/Bergen Catholic/Western New England 149 - Rutgers - Mario Mason, Moorestown, N.J./Blair Academy/Minnesota 149 - Rutgers - Ken Theobold, Toms River, N.J./Toms River South 157 – Nebraska – No. 6 James Green, Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro 157 - Cornell - Chris Dowdy, Millstone, N.J./St. Benedicts Prep 157 - Bucknell - Vincent Favia, Brick, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy 157- Bucknell - Robert Schlitt, Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield 157- George Mason - Jaaziah Bethea, Trenton, N.J./Trenton Central 157 – Rutgers – No. 20 Scott Winston, Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial 165 – Rutgers - Nick Visicaro, Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch 174 – Iowa – No. 11 Mike Evans, Enola, Pa./Blair Academy (N.J.) 174 – Rutgers - Greg Zannetti, Edison, N.J./J.P. Stevens 184 - Drexel - Bryan Sternlieb, Toms River, N.J./Toms River East 184 - Rutgers – No. 13 Dan Rinaldi, Lodi, N.J./Lodi 197 – Ohio State – No. 8 Andrew Campolattano, Bound Brook, N.J./Bound Brook 197 - Cornell - Billy George, Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch 197 - Bucknell - Tyler Lyster, Wanamassa, N.J./Ocean Township 197 - Hofstra - Victor Pozsonyi, Roselle Park, N.J./Roselle Park 197 - Rutgers - Dan Seidenberg, Red Bank, N.J./Red Bank 197 - Rutgers - Hayden Hrymack, Lincroft, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy 285 - Rutgers - Billy Smith, Wantage, N.J./High Point Head Coach – Rutgers - Scott Goodale, Jackson, N.J. Head Assistant Coach - Hofstra - Zach Tanelli, Millburn, N.J. Assistant Coach – Oklahoma State - Zach Esposito, Three Bridges, N.J. Assistant Coach – Cornell - Damion Hahn, Lakewood, N.J. Assistant Coach - Hofstra - Dan Vallimont, Lake Hopatcong, N.J. Assistant Coach – Rutgers - John Leonardis, Sea Girt, N.J. Assistant Coach – Rutgers - Frank Molinaro, Barnegat, N.J. Volunteer Assistant – Cornell - Mike Grey, Rockaway, N.J. Volunteer Assistant – Iowa - Kurt Backes, Neshanic Station, N.J. Volunteer Assistant – Rutgers - Joe Pollard, Heightstown, N.J. New York natives 125- Hofstra – No. 18 Steve Bonanno, Wantaugh, N.Y./Wantaugh 133 - Hofstra - Jamie Franco, Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury 133 – Cornell – No. 17 Nick Arujau, Syosset, N.Y./Syosset 133 - Bloomsburg – No. 19 Nick Wilcox, Greene, N.Y./Greene Central 141 - Cornell – No. 7 Mike Nevinger, Perry, N.Y./Letchworth Central 141 - Maryland - Danny O'Malley, Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East 157 - Hofstra - Cody Ruggirello, Walden, N.Y./Valley Central 165 - Cornell – No. 1 Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y./Lansing 165 - Bloomsburg - Josh Veltre, Rochester, N.Y./Greece Olympia 165 - Hofstra - Nick Terdick, East Northport, N.Y./John Glenn 165 - Rutgers - Anthony Volpe, Miller Place, N.Y./Rocky Point 174 - Bloomsburg - Kevin Hartnett, Staten Island, N.Y,/Monsignor Farrell 174 - Drexel - Kevin Matyas, Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City 174 - Hofstra - Jermaine John, Brooklyn, N.Y./Bethpage 184 - Cornell - Craig Scott, Palmyra, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon 197 - Maryland – No. 13 Christian Boley, Brockport, N.Y./Brockport 285 – Ohio State – No. 12 Peter Capone, Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City Head Coach – Ohio State - Tom Ryan, Wantagh, N.Y. Head Coach – Maryland - Kerry McCoy, Middle Island, N.Y. Associate Head Coach – Ohio State - Lou Rosselli, Middleport, N.Y. Assistant Coach – Bloomsburg - Danny Song, Hauppauge, N.Y. Assistant Coach – Bucknell - David Marble, Harpursville, N.Y. Assistant Coach – Chattanooga, Rocco Mansueto, Middletown, N.Y. Assistant Coach - Hofstra - Ryan Patrovich, Islip, N.Y. Pennsylvania natives 125 – Bucknell - Austin Miller, Mt. Joy, Pa./Hempfield 133 – Maryland – No. 11 Geoffrey Alexander, Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy 141 - Bloomsburg - Matt Rappo. Holland, Pa./Council Rock South 141 – Drexel - Frank Cimato, Yardley, Pa./Peddie School (N.J.) 149 – Oklahoma State – No. 2 Jordan Oliver, Easton, Pa./Easton 149 - Bloomsburg – No. 20 Josh Roosa. Mountaintop, Pa./Crestwood 149 - Bucknell - Adam Healey, Wilkes Barre, Pa./Wyoming Seminary 149 – Drexel - Shane Fenningham, Bethlehem, Pa./Northampton 157 – Drexel - William Long, Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley 157 - Hofstra - Justin Accordino, Wilkes Barre, Pa./Coughlin 165 - Drexel - Charles Aungst, Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove Area 165 - Bucknell - Corey Lear, Orangeville, Pa./Benton Area 165- George Mason - Ty Knepp, Paxonville, Pa./Midd-West 174 – Iowa – No. 11 Mike Evans, Enola, Pa./Blair Academy (N.J.) 174- George Mason - Ryan Hembury, Muncy, Pa./Muncy 184 – Ohio State - Kenny Courts, Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin 184 – Cornell - Steve Bosak, State College, Pa./State College Area 184 - Maryland – No. 9 Jimmy Sheptock, Northampton, Pa./Northampton 184 - Bloomsburg - Andre Petroski, Glenn Mills, Pa./Springfield 197 – Nebraska - Caleb Kolb, Grove City, Pa./Grove City 197 - Drexel – No. 19 Brandon Palik, Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley 197 - Hofstra - Tim Murphy, Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth/Edinboro 285 - Maryland - Carl Buchholz, Malvern, Pa./Great Valley 285 – Maryland - Dallas Brown, Wolsville, Pa./Delone Catholic 285 - Bloomsburg - Justin Grant , Easton, Pa./Easton 285 - Bucknell - Joe Stolfi, Harleysville, Pa./Souderton 285 - Hofstra - Paul Snyder, Greenburg, Pa./Mt. Pleasant Area Head Coach – Cornell - Rob Koll, State College, Pa. Head Coach - Hofstra - Rob Anspach, Pine Grove, Pa. Assistant Coach – Nebraska - Brian Snyder, Easton, Pa. Assistant Coach – Maryland - Mike Catullo, Oakmont, Pa. Assistant Coach - Bucknell - Jim Gibson, Hermitage, Pa. Assistant Coach - Drexel - Zach Sheaffer, Carlisle, Pa. Assistant Coach - Drexel - Tyler Nauman, Middletown, Pa. Volunteer Assistant – Maryland - Chris Vitale, Nazareth, Pa. Rhode Island native 149 - Drexel - Nicholas Maccini, Cumberland, R.I./Cumberland