5 Cyclones Look to Pin Centenary History

Centenary College has never claimed a national title in the world of wrestling, either as a team or individually.

This weekend, however, they've got five chances to claim supremacy and bring home that ever-elusive championship.

The team was ranked as high as third in Division III this season, and has two returning All-Americans on the squad. In its final team meet of the season, the Cyclones claimed the East Regional Championship at the end of February.

Five cyclones are headed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to take a shot at history, including 133 lb. Zach Huxford (Jackson, N.J., Jackson Memorial), 141 lb. Cory C. Vernon (Great Meadows, N.J., Hackettstown), 157 lb. Chris Burdge (Newton, N.J., Kittatinny), 165 lb. Owen Vernon (Great Meadows, N.J., Hackettstown), and 285 lb. J.D. Zitone (Montague, N.J., Port Jervis).

The following preview capsules have been provided by the Centenary College Athletic Department.

133 Lbs. Preview
After taking third place at the NCAA East Region Tournament in Gettysburg two weeks ago, Huxford is looking forward to his first NCAA tournament and will have a tough road ahead. Paired up against the third-seeded Alex Gomez of Ithaca, Huxford will need a big win in the opening round of the tournament to continue his quest for a spot atop the podium. Both Huxford (15-6) and Gomez (18-4) will be competing in their first NCAA Tournament so the intensity going into the opening match is expected to be high.

141 Lbs. Preview
The Cyclones will be looking for junior Cory Vernon to continue what he has done all season after taking third place at the regionals in an intense first season on the Centenary squad. To open the championships this weekend, Vernon is slated to take on eighth-seeded Brian Travis of Dubuque, first-place winner of the Central Regional two weeks ago. This season, Vernon has posted up a 21-6 overall record and broke his way into the top 10 rankings in the last poll of the year at No. 9.

157 Lbs. Preview
Returning two-time All-American and second ranked Chris Burdge goes into the tournament looking to set a program record for a third consecutive All-American honor after taking first-place at the East Regional two weeks ago. Burdge (24-1) picks up the second seed in the Championship where he is set to take on Kevin Fynboh (20-13) of Concordia-Moorhead, second place finisher in the West Regional. As of the latest NCAA ranking, Burdge has been named the third most dominant wrestler in all of Division III, and the top dominant wrestler in all of the 157 lb. class going into the Championship weekend.

165 Lbs. Preview
Returning senior Owen Vernon looks to round out his illustrious Centenary career with a chance to stand atop the podium in Cedar Rapids this weekend. After earning a No. 9 ranking this season, Vernon enters the Championship to take on seventh-seeded Derrick Longo of Springfield College who took second place at the Northeast Regional. Both Vernon and Longo take a 29-5 record going into the Championship Tournament but Vernon hopes to take down the top-10 seeded Longo after his third-place finish at the East Regional.

285 Lbs. Preview
The Cyclones will be turning towards their anchor in returning All-American J.D. Zitone who enters the Championship as the second seed, slated to take on Cody Lovejoy (31-12) of Ohio Northern, third-place finisher at the Mideast Regional. Zitone (24-1) is looking for his second straight All-American honors to round out his career as a Cyclone this year after taking seventh place in the 2012 Championship Tournament.