Senior Ben Hepburn, a NCAA qualifier last year will be force fo the crimson and white this season.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - LOCK HAVEN - Rocky Bonomo usually uses the word guardedly or secretly before placing optimistic after it.

This year, he's just plain old optimistic.

"We are going to have some very competitive individuals on the national level," the Lock Haven University wrestling coach said. "It's exciting to have kids that can compete at that level. Our team has a nice balance of experience and leadership with our seniors. Some incoming athletes have some high expectations placed on them. I am optimistic we are going to have a good year."

After sending three kids to the NCAA Division I wrestling tournament last season, Bonomo is hoping to send at least that many back to St. Louis in 2009.

The three wrestlers - Matt Fittery, Ben Hepburn and Billy Ashnault - all return back to the university.

There's high hopes for 157-pound red-shirt freshman Luke Lanno.

And there's plenty of battle-tested individuals scattered throughout.

As for new faces, there will be some.

Bonomo has decided to red-shirt 2007-2008 starters John Trumbetti and Jeremie Cook this season. Heavyweight Dan Craig, although it wasn't completely certain, is also expected to use his red-shirt.

For Trumbetti and Cook, injuries dictate the decisions. For Craig, it's about spending another year training and hitting the weight room.

"Trumbetti's was simple after his injury," Bonomo said. "He was caught in between weights. This was our chance to build him up to that 133-141 pounder. Cook wrestled last year with basically one knee, and a year where he doesn't have to bang around every single weekend is going to be good for him. We will be looking for spots to place him in, Opens and tournaments like that. He stepped up last year when he planned on red-shirting.

"We wanted to flip-flop red-shirting both Dan and Gabe (Murtorff) when they both were recruited. A year under Dan's belt, he's going to get better."

With Trumbetti taking a red-shirt, that opens up a spot at 125 where either Nick Hyatt or Evan Kolb is expected to slide in.

In his collegiate career, Hyatt is 13-13 - while Kolb is a red-shirt sophomore.

"We have a pretty combat-tested athlete in Nick Hyatt," Bonomo said. "He's going to be exciting to watch. He's aggressive, and he's brutal on top. He's going to help us. He helped us at times when we moved him up. Having a full season under his belt, he'll only get better. Evan Kolb is a solid kid. He wrestles hard, and he'll help us too."

At 133 is going to be the sophomore Ashnault. Although his record didn't indicate it, the New Jersey product came on strong at the end of last season to earn the NCAA berth.

One of the question-mark weights will be at 141. With Jarred Kane using a medical red-shirt, it opens the door for either Owen Wilkinson or Zach Kell.

Fittery returns for his senior season, and will hold down the spot at 149. In his LHU career, he's 46-31 with 17 majors and six falls.

"Fittery is on pace to be an All-American," Bonomo said. "I know he didn't have a great NCAA Tournament last year. He beat that Missouri kid who was pretty good, but we expect great things from him."

Lanno enters the lineup at 157. He's got some excellent credentials behind him, such as a Beast of the East championship in high school, but the collegiate circle is a different world.

"Luke enjoys the stage. When the lights are on, that's when he performs his best," Bonomo said. "He likes the pressure, and loves the hype. This is a kid that's going to perform well. He's got that eye for competition because he's a big, strong kid. He walks around with that confidence. He's an assertive young man. He backs it up with his wrestling. It's going to be great to see him in a Bald Eagle singlet."

Three athletes are all in the mix at 165.

John Mangini, a starter at 157 last season, is in the running along with Selinsgrove product Aaron Ernest and fellow freshman Kevin Dufresne.

Another of the question-mark weights is 174. With Bald Eagle Area product Travis Stem trying to get to this mark, it remains to be seen who steps in. For now, it appears that junior Alex Dalrymple will get the nod.

Tommy Kocher returns back to LHU for his senior campaign and will hold down the 184-pound spot. The Lancaster native has been a consistent grappler in Bonomo's lineup, going 51-41 in his Bald Eagle career with 10 major decisions.

Back at 197 is NCAA qualifier Ben Hepburn. The Loyalsock product was 17-13 last season and is 33-31 in his career.

"Hepburn is coming into his own," Bonomo said. "He finally believes that he is good and can win. It will be good to see him. He's starting to open up in the room, and that's important because he's a strong, aggressive kid."

With Craig expected to take the red-shirt year, Murtorff enters here. He was a Pennsylvania state place-winner in high school, but will wrestle at a weight in the Eastern Wrestling League that has four athletes - all seniors - ranked in the nation.

With the criteria changing for how a wrestler gets selected for the NCAA Tournament, strength of schedule comes into play.

That's part of the reason why Bonomo has elected to begin the season with No. 4 ranked Missouri tomorrow night.

"When you have an opportunity to wrestle a top 5 team in a dual meet, you do it whenever. It's kind of like we need to do it," the LHU head coach said. "It's good for the guys. They beat a ranked kid, then it's huge. It may not be great for my coaching record, but it's good for the individuals on my team to have that opportunity. If they don't wrestle any ranked guys throughout the season, how is that going to help them? Our guys are excited for the opportunity."

The rest of the season is difficult as well with trips to Rider, Penn State and the Southern Scuffle to go along with EWL foes West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Edinboro and Cleveland State.

Bonomo knows the expectations are always high in Lock Haven, and how important wrestling is to this community.

And it's something he's stressed to his athletes in the preseason.

"Getting to the nationals, having a national ranking, doesn't carry a whole lot of weight the next season," Bonomo said. "Those three kids have been there, which is great, but that's not what we are about. We are expected to bring athletes to the NCAA Tournament. We really expect them to make an impact there. That's what I told those three guys. Now, it's time to bring home some hardware."

Courtesy of Tom Fox, The Express (Lock Haven, Pa.) Sports Editor