Wrestling team enters 2017-18 season with high hopes under 30th-year head coach Ron Beaschler

ADA — The Ohio Northern wrestling team enters the 2017-18 season with high hopes under 30th-year head coach Ron Beaschler.

The Polar Bears return 12 lettermen and eight starters from last year's squad that posted an 11-4 dual meet record, went 4-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference and was 11th of 16 teams at the NCAA III Midwest Regionals.

ONU has posted ten consecutive winning seasons and has finished with more wins than losses in 45 of the program's 52-year history.

With high levels of talent and experience returning on the roster, combined with a solid incoming freshmen class, it is easy to see why optimism abounds in the ONU wrestling camp.

"We are excited about the upcoming season," Beaschler said. "One of our team objectives each season is to win the OAC title and we feel that we have the talent to compete for that.

This season we are looking for great leadership from our experienced upperclassmen to help groom and develop an excellent freshmen class as we strive to take the program to the next level."

Here is a breakdown of the 2017-18 Ohio Northern wrestling team by weight class.

125 - With returning sophomore NCAA Midwest Regional sixth place placer Seth Transue (Plain City/Dublin) back at 125 it will be a tough challenge to wrestle this weight from him.

However, freshman challenger Avory Winans (Wooster) looks to do just that in his first year with the Polar Bears.

133 - Three year letterman Brad Taton (Mentor/Lake Catholic) was the starter here last year and is returning this year for his senior campaign. Taton was a consistent performer for Ohio Northern last season until an injury ended his season at the regional tournament.

Hot on Taton's heels is transfer sophomore John Shirkey (Erlanger, Ky./LaSalle), a sixth place finisher at the 2017 NCAA III Midwest Regional.  

Talented Freshmen Derek Dolph (Canton/South), an Ohio state qualifier looks to gain experience and get in the hunt for the starting job as the season progresses.

141 - Will be a battle! Returning starter sophomore Aidan Pierobon (Rochester Hills, Mich./Stoney Creek) and talented newcomer and Ohio state runner-up Noah Mattin (Archbold) will battle it out to see who can hold down the starting role at this weight. 

Add to the mix freshman Ohio district qualifier Jevyn Pratt (Carey) and this talented trio of athletes will push each other every day in practice and makes this a deep weight class that will be exciting to watch.

149 - Senior Evan Morgan (Cincinnati/Elder) is the returning starter at what looks to be Northern's deepest weight class.

A group of strong challengers with sophomore Jeff Andrews (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) moving up from 141 and a trio of freshmen eager to prove their abilities on the college stage, two time Ohio state placer Alex Kowal (Cincinnati/Bishop Fenwick), Ohio state placer Schuyler Caprella (Harrod/Allen East), and Michigan district placer Scot Laing (Beulah, Mich./Benzie Central), all are gunning to earn the starting role.

157 - Senior returning starter and Midwest Regional sixth place placer Gavin Nelson (Oregon/Clay) will be the wrestler to beat here.

Looking to supplant Nelson will be sophomore Trevor Reed (New London), up from 149 pounds last season, two time Ohio district qualifier Rhett Roeder (Monroeville) and Ohio district qualifier Tim Vlasek (Richfield/Revere).

165 - Senior returning starter Seth Meyer (Defiance) will be the man to beat at 165 pounds for this season. Seth has been a steadily improving, consistent performer that is looking for his breakout season. 

Sophomore Brock Jones (Perrysburg) is coming back from off season surgery and is looking to make his mark in the second half of the season and push for the starting role.

174 - With four year starter Kyler Deeter graduated, this weight class has opened up for someone new to step in. Junior Clayton Davidson, who battled back and forth with Deeter early in the 2016-17 season, is looking to take control of the weight class and make it his own this season.

However, sophomore Jacob Thompson (West Mansfield/Triad) who was in and out of the lineup last year at 165 pounds is making the move to 174 pounds this year with plans to challenge for the top spot at this weight class.

184 - This weight will be a mix of experience and young talent. Senior Alex Bair (Centerville) brings the experience as a three year letterman to this equation as the returning starter from last season.

The young talent will come from three challengers, sophomore Chris Mueller (Sharpsville, Pa.) and two time Michigan State finalist, freshman Cash Thompson (Lake Odessa, Mich./Lakewood) and freshman Bret Lane (Frankfort/Adena). This trio have their eyes poised on the starting spot.

197 - Returning three-year starter senior Evan Hickey (Wilmington) looks to hold onto the starting role at 197. Don't be surprised to see competition migrate up from 184 looking for a shot to crack the lineup.

285 - After going 30-8 and placing sixth at the Midwest Regional tournament in his breakout freshman year, sophomore Nate Barcaskey (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) has a tight grip on this weight going into the 2017-18 season.

Looking to wrestle his starting spot away is Michigan state placer freshman Austin Keeley (Marysville, Mich.)