For the Bloomsburg wrestling program, the final whistle of the season has blown. For seniors Matt Moley and Rick Schmelyun, it was the final whistle of their college careers. The two seniors have been four year starters for the Huskies, originally penciled in as backups, but as Head Coach John Stutzman explains, "They came in and beat guys out, they were young, they took over, and that's what we needed."
Both Huskies got involved with wrestling at a young age through their families, and while Schmelyun loved it from the beginning, Moley wasn't quite as keen on the sport. His dad and brother had to push him to go to practices when he was younger, and he didn't take it too seriously until he got to high school. It was then that he matured and realized, "It was something that I was good at, and it could get me into college."
Stutzman recruited the two because the program was in a rebuilding stage, they were both very competitive, and they both had positive attitudes. Moley and Schmelyun both chose to sign at Bloom because of their experiences during their high-school's summer camps at Bloom and their comfort level with the campus and wrestling staff.
When they began their freshman year, Stutzman was beginning his second year at the helm of the program and was still young. He feels that both wrestlers helped him grow a lot as a coach and admits ,"I was real hard on them, I had high expectations." He continued, "I forced them to mature, be the faces of the program, and they did that."
Stutzman noted that Moley helped him grow as a coach because he had to train him differently than others. Moley acknowledged this saying, "I think that's part of being a coach. I'm not the type of kid that needs to be pushed to the limit every day; I needed a good amount of rest as well."
The seniors recognize how much Stutzman has helped them throughout their careers. Moley learned a lot once he came up here stating, "Ever since day one he's helped me out tremendously." Moley learned the essentials of wrestling in college as opposed to high school, and Stutzman also helped him refine his technique.
Schmelyun feels that Stutzman has, "brought a whole new level of intensity to the sport." He also says, "His love for the sport is unmatched, and I haven't seen it in anyone else. I wouldn't be where I was if it wasn't for him."
Being teammates for the past four years Schmelyun and Moley have become great friends, but that wasn't always the case. When the two would come up to Bloomsburg for the summer wrestling camps their teams would wrestle each other and both admit that it was an intense rivalry that led to general dislike for the opposing school. Once they both arrived for their freshman year and began practicing together, they were able to put that all behind them. Both recognize how good of a practice partner the other has been as they pushed each other throughout their careers to become better. With Moley wrestling the past few years at 157 pounds and Schmelyun at 165, the two have become a powerful tandem in the middle of the Huskies lineup. Schmelyun enjoys wrestling right after Moley in the Huskies' dual meets saying, "It gets me going [watching him wrestle], and gives me momentum for my match."
Moley, with a career record of 125-38, is most proud of finishing in sixth place at the NCAA Championships his junior year. While Moley's goal has always been to be an NCAA Champion and doesn't feel like he "reached his full potential this year," he has had a great career. The two-time All-American admitted his toughest moments were when he had to wrestle Edinboro's Gregor Gillespie because he lost to him nine times throughout his career. Moley was able to beat Gillespie once, in the EWL Championship bout in 2009, the last match that they ever faced each other. Moley explained, "It felt really good to beat him that last time because he was the toughest kid I've wrestled."
Schmelyun finishes his career with a record of 118-57, which is more losses than he'd like to have, but it is a mark that he's content with. He is also third on the school's all-time list in pins with 39. He says, "It's nice to leave a mark, I'm behind some great guys on the list."
The college achievement that means the most to him is qualifying for the NCAA Championships twice, remembering that it was pretty exciting to get out there for the first time. Schmelyun has also had his share of rough matches, with the worst being a match that he wrestled his sophomore year at the Northeast Duals. He was competing with pulled cartilage in his rib and wrestled Eric Tannenbaum from Michigan, who was a top-ranked wrestler at the time. Schmelyun lost by a 12-2 major decision, describing it as, "the worst beating that I've taken here."
Each wrestler easily eclipsed the 100 win mark in their careers. It was something that they wanted to do, but became lesser of a goal as their careers moved along. Stutzman states, "The 100 win mark for them was a step. 100 wins is a mark of consistency, and it's something that we're going to miss from them."
Stutzman appreciates what the two seniors have done for the Bloomsburg wrestling program. Referring to Moley, he describes him as, "probably one of the best wrestlers to ever come through this university." He adds, "What he has done for this program has put us on a national level and has elevated this program."
The head coach also speaks highly of Schmelyun saying, "Rick brought loyalty to the program, I was hard on him and pushed him, and he never wavered. He has been very consistent throughout his career, that's his mark."
Wrestling has helped both of these young men off of the mats as well. Schmelyun feels that wrestling has helped him with time management adding, "you don't realize how much free time that you have once wrestling is over." Wrestling has helped Moley off of the mats by "teaching me hard work and dedication, while realizing to not look at anything as being out of reach."
Stutzman feels that, "Wrestling has helped those guys become better students and individuals. Males who are 18 to 22 years old need structure in their lives, this wrestling program gave it to them, and they embraced it."
After he graduates next semester Moley is considering attending grad school to be a gym teacher, but even if he doesn't he would definitely like to coach wrestling in the future at some point. Speaking of his time here at Bloomsburg he says, "It's been a good run and I love it here at Bloom. I think it's a great school, the memories will last forever and I've met some great friends."
Schmelyun will also be back for the fall semester and is just taking things as they go. He feels that overall he's had a good experience at this university and that he's learned some life lessons that have helped him persevere through things. He says, "Once you've wrestled, everything else in life just seems easier."
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