Preview: Ohio Northern looks to defend its Ohio Athletic Conference title in 2013-14
By Tim Glon
| 2013-14 Wrestling Schedule |
ADA — The Ohio Northern wrestling program is looking to defend its Ohio Athletic Conference title in the 2013-14 campaign under 26th-year head coach Ron Beaschler.
The Polar Bears return 14 lettermen and six starters from last year's squad that posted a 16-4 dual meet record, won a share of the OAC title with a 4-1 mark and advanced three wrestlers to the NCAA III Championships.
ONU has posted six consecutive winning seasons and has had winning records in 42 of the program's 48-year history.
The Polar Bears finished 18th at the 2012 NCAA III Championships and return junior NCAA qualifier and Elite 89 Award winner Cody Lovejoy.
With the high level of talent and experience returning on the roster, combined with a solid incoming freshman class, and it's easy to see why optimism abounds in the ONU wrestling camp.
"We are excited about the upcoming season," Beaschler said. "Our goal each season is to win the OAC title and we feel that we have the talent to compete for that. We have many question marks at some of the weight classes, but we also have a great deal of talent at each and every weight class."
Here is a breakdown of the 2013-14 Ohio Northern wrestling team, by weight class.
125
Senior Jerry Pasquale (26-15, 3-2 OAC) was the starter in 2010-11 and again in 2012-13 and has the potential to have an outstanding senior season.
Freshman Allen Seagraves placed at the Ohio State meet as a prep last season and will certainly battle for the starting spot.
133
Two-time NCAA qualifier Jeremy Jones has graduated, making this weight class a wide-open battle.
Junior Cole Cochran missed last season due to injury and is moving up from 125. He will compete against freshman Santana Villarreal, who was also a place at the 2013 OHSAA Championships.
141
Two seniors and a sophomore will resume a competition for the starting spot at 141 that lasted the entire 2012-13 campaign.
Senior Cody Harting (9-19, 2-1 OAC), senior Ryan Fowler (3-5) and sophomore Shaun Lee (6-16, 0-2 OAC) all shared time in the starting lineup last season and will again battle for the top spot this year.
149
Five men enter the season competing for the starting spot at 149.
Junior All-Conference honoree J.P. Hoopes (13-11, 2-1 OAC) and junior Kyle Brezovec (12-8, 2-0 OAC) both had solid seasons in 2012-13.
Freshman Ohio state champion Gennar Feucht and freshman Ohio state placer Jared Orr will also compete for the starting spot in a very talented weight class.
157
Freshman Keegan Shillito and Jacob Sowers enter camp as the two 157-pounders and bring impressive prep credentials, but may face a challenge from one of the 149-pound guys as the season wears on.
165
This is another weight class deep in talent but thin in experience.
Junior Brandon Howes (11-13), sophomore Colt Lovejoy (7-13) and sophomore Jeff Stover (6-10) all return with designs on the starting spot at 165.
Incoming freshman Douglas Davenport will also factor into the competition here.
174
Senior four-time All-American and two-time national champion Kyle Kwiat has graduated and opened up a spot for someone to step in and contribute.
Sophomore Tyler Gargano (23-17, 2-3 OAC) was the starter at 165 last season and will move up to his more comfortable weight of 174. Sophomore T.J. Calton returns healthy this winter and will also have a shot at the starting spot.
184
Sophomore Kody Bellamy (13-16) will move down from 184 and battle with incoming freshman Dillon Brancheau, Nathan McCowan and David Woolley for the starting position at 184.
197
Senior Mike Pawlitz (30-9, 4-1 OAC) is a two-time All-OAC honoree and will hold down the 197-pound weight class.
285
Junior Cody Lovejoy (32-13, 5-0 OAC) was named First Team All-OAC and competed at the NCAA III Championships last year. Sophomore Greg Biben will push for mat time and gives the Polar Bears much-needed depth here.
Lovejoy is ranked No. 8 at heavyweight in the Brute-National Wrestling Coaches Association preseason poll.