Wrestlers tabbed a co-favorites to claim 2013-14 OAC title

By Tim Glon

| 2013-14 OAC Wrestling Preseason Poll (.pdf) |

ADA — The Ohio Northern wrestling team was selected as preseason co-favorites to win the 2013-14 Ohio Athletic Conference Wrestling championship in voting conducted by the league's six head coaches.

The Polar Bears, under 26th-year head coach Ron Beaschler, received 21 points and two of the six first place votes.

Heidelberg also received 21 points and two first place votes and Mount Union was picked third with 19 points and the two remaining first place votes.

All three schools shared the OAC crown with 4-1 records a year ago.

Ohio Northern has won back-to-back OAC crowns.

Junior Cody Lovejoy was named First Team All-OAC and senior Michael Pawlitz and junior J.P. Hoopes were a Second Team All-OAC performers last year and lead the list of returners in 2013-14.

Lovejoy, who is ranked No. 9 nationally at heavyweight entering the season, has won the OAC Most Pins in Least Amount of Time Award each of the past two seasons and was an NCAA III Championships qualifier last season.

He was also a Scholar All-American and won the prestigious Elite 89 Award as the student-athlete with the highest GPA at the NCAA Championships.

ONU will open the season Nov. 23 at the Olivet (Mich.) Duals and will host the 33rd annual ONU Invitational on Dec. 7 at the ONU Sports Center.

OAC Wrestling Preseason Poll
Oct. 29, 2013