By KIM NORTH

Times Leader Sports Writer

BRIDGEPORT — Things are looking up for the Bridgeport wrestling team.

Fifth-year head coach David Nelson has done a tremendous job of getting the numbers back up to par for the youthful Bulldogs as they will fill 12 of the 14 weight classes when the 64th annual Ron Mauck OVAC Tournament begins Thursday inside downtown Wheeling’s WesBanco Arena. The event will run through Saturday night’s championship finals.

“I am looking for us to improve on our two placers from last year. We have a good shot of placing three to four wrestlers, with an outside shot of placing as many as six,” Nelson said. “The team needs to come out and wrestle hard every match. Our goal is to contend for a top three placement in 1A/2A.

“We are still young and for many of these wrestlers it will be their first experience at the OVAC tournament,” he continued. “I look for the younger wrestlers to gain the experience of wrestling at a big tournament, and hopefully, gain a couple wins with a good performance.”

Bridgeport returns seven lettermen, including sophomore Mason Kuneff (132) who placed sixth at 126 last year. He is currently 13-3 and 52-15 for his career. He was also a Division III district qualifier last winter and captured the East Liverpool Tournament championship earlier this year.

“I look for Mason to improve on his sixth-place finish as a freshman,” Nelson allowed. “Mason wrestles every match hard and puts himself in a position to win against anybody. I look for him to contend for a top 4 placement.”

The other returnees are led by sophomores Tyler Antonacci (120), Tino Kusic (145), Damion Green (152) and Jarret Deaton (160); and juniors Elliott Dean (138) and Levi Bryant (285).

Antonacci is 12-10 this season thus far and 38-25 for his career.

“Tyler was one match away last year from placement and I look for him to make the podium this year,” Nelson added. “He placed third at St. Clairsville’s America’s Best Value Inn Tournament.

Kusic has been virtually unbeatable this season with a superb 20-2 mark. He is 56-14 for his career and was a state tournament qualifier last winter. He has won the America’s Best Value Inn Tournament in St. Clairsville while finishing second in East Liverpool.

“Tino had a rough tournament last year and did not place. I look for him to be in a much better spot this year, and contend for a top 4 placement on the podium,” Nelson said. “Tino showed a lot of improvement towards the end of last year in making the state tournament and has continued that success through the beginning of this year.”

Kusic has competed mostly at 160 and 152 this season, but has dropped down to 145. He is ranked 11th at 152 by www.ovaec.org.

Green is 6-8 so far.

“Damion has been up and down this year, winning some big matches, but also losing some,” Nelson pointed out. “If has has a good weekend, he should be able to pick up some big wins.”

Deaton has opened some eyes with his performance so far this season, resulting in an 8-6 mark.

“I look for Jarret to surprise many people this year at the OVAC tournament. He has wrestled great at the past couple of tournaments, placing fifth at St. Clairsville and third at Shadyside,” Nelson noted. “He has worked hard to improve himself and has been a big surprise for us this year. Jarret has a chance to place if he upsets some people and has a great tournament which he is capable of doing.”

Dean is 5-6 in a tough weight class.

“Elliott has had a rough start to the season, but I have seen a lot of improvement in him lately,” Nelson continued. “He finished fourth at Shadyside.”

Bryant has compiled a 10-7 mark so far this season.

“Levi moved up to heavyweight from 220 last year and is still a little undersized at the weight class,” Nelson said. “He wrestles hard every match and has shown a lot of improvement this year. He has a chance to pick up some big wins and maybe sneak in to a lower placement.”

The remainder of the Bulldogs’ lineup consists of sophomores Hunter Duffey (170) and Adam Loughman (220), along with freshmen Jessica Weires (113), Devin Danhart (182) and and Zachary Kuneff (195).

Nelson is assisted by Bryan Skoff, Dom Vinci and Brad Tomolonis.