Courtesy: Beverly Schaefer Charles Fox could be the Princeton starter at 197.

The Princeton wrestling team could see the debut of three projected starters when it opens its dual season Saturday at the 2012 Journeymen/ASICS Northeast Duals at the Edward F. McDonough Sports Complex in Troy, N.Y.

Princeton, which has wrestled tournaments in both Binghamton and Philadelphia so far this season, will open competition at 9:30 am against the fifth-ranked University of Illinois. At 11:25 am, the Tigers will take on Bloomsburg, and they will complete their day at 1:40 against No. 23 Purdue University.

There have been several highlights from the first two weekends of the season, including a handful by the newest members of the program. Freshman Scott Gibbons is the only Tiger to place at both Binghamton and the Keystone Open; he placed third in the latter and brings a team-best nine victories into the weekend.

Fellow freshmen Abe Ayala and Judson Ziegler both earned semifinal spots at the Binghamton Open, though neither wrestled last weekend. Both could return to action this weekend in a lineup that could start as many as six freshman for any dual meet.

One of those freshmen could be heavyweight Cole Lampman, one of three projected starters who could make their 2012-13 debut this weekend. The other two are juniors Ryan Callahan and Dan Santoro, both of whom are recovering from injuries and hoping to get back on the mat Saturday.

The fifth-ranked Illini brings in five projected starters ranked in the national Top 6 at their weight classes. Both Jesse Delgado (125) and B.J. Futrell (141) are ranked third nationally, and Jordan Blanton (174) is coming off a fourth-place finish at the 2012 NCAA Championships.

Bloomsburg is 3-1 on the season, and its lone loss came by an 18-12 score to 2012 EIWA runner-up Lehigh. Bloomsburg had two individual champions at the Keystone Open last weekend; senior Josh Roosa won the 149-pound title, while junior Richard Perry won the 197-pound title.

Purdue comes into the weekend with a 4-1 dual record. Sophomore Brandon Nelsen (141) and senior Tommy Churchard (157) are both nationally ranked for the Boilermakers.

PROJECTED PRINCETON LINEUP
125 – Ryan Cash (2-4) or Max Rogers (2-4)
133 – Garrett Frey (3-4) or Andrew Hirai (0-4)
141 – Nick Maselli (2-4)
149 – Zach Bintliff (5-2)
157 – Seth Hazleton (4-4) or Kyle Roddy (6-4)
165 – Judson Ziegler (3-2)
174 – Abram Ayala (3-2) or Ryan Callahan (0-0)
184 – Scott Gibbons (9-4) or Dan Santoro (0-0)
197 – Charles Fox (0-4)
285 – Cole Lampman (0-0)