Season Preview: Wrestling enters 2015-16 season with high hopes under 28th-year head coach Ron Beaschler
By Tim Glon
ADA — The Ohio Northern wrestling team enters the 2015-16 season with high hopes under 28th-year head coach Ron Beaschler.
The Polar Bears return 10 lettermen and four starters from last year's squad that posted a 15-5 dual meet record, went 3-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, was eighth of 18 teams at the NCAA III Mideast Regionals and had an individual compete at the NCAA III Championships.
ONU has posted eight consecutive non-losing seasons and has had winning records in 43 of the program's 50-year history.
With the high level of talent and experience returning on the roster, combined with a solid incoming freshman class, 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 question marks at many 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 2015-16 Ohio Northern wrestling team, by weight class.
125
Sophomore Brad Taton returns as the starter at 125 pounds after posting a 21-16 record with three pins in 2014-15. Freshman Austin Palmer will challenge Taton at the weight class.
133
Graduated senior Cole Cochran is gone, leaving the 133-pound weight class wide open. Three promising freshmen, Ryan Boulton, Kenneth Limes and Nathaniel Palmer, will battle for the starting spot here.
141
Sophomore Dylan Dolph returns as the starter at 141 pounds after posting a solid 21-21 recxord with three pins as a freshman last winter. One of the 133-pounders may move up a weight class to challenge Dolph as the season progresses.
149
Sophomore Evan Morgan went 28-17 with seven pins and is the returning starter at 149. Freshman Gavin Nelson will push Morgan for varsity mat time this season.
157
Junior Gennar Feucht is expected to miss the 2015-16 season with an injury, leaving the 157-pound weight class wide open.
Junior Benitez, a junior, and freshmen Clayton Davidson and Dustin Funk, will battle for the starting spot here.
165
Junior Kyler Deeter was 28-17 last season while splitting time at 157 and 165 and looks to be the favorite to grab the starting spot at 165 this season.
He will be challenged by sophomores Matt Gwin and Trae Brooks this year.
174
This is the deepest weight class with no less than six men listed at 174 pounds.
It also might be the most wide-open weight class.
Sophomore Alex Bair was 12-13 at 174 and 184 last season and is the only returning lettermen here.
Sophomores Max Dole and Seth Meyer and freshmen Richard Jones, Dylan Wildman and Austin Windle are all capable wrestlers that could win the starting spot.
184
Junior Ian Brown is the only wrestler listed at 184 pounds, but could face challenges from several of the 174 pounders, shgould they choose to move up a weight class.
197
Sophomore Evan Hickey came on strong at the end of his freshman season and was the starter by the end oif the year at 197.
He posted a 13-14 record with eight pins as a rookie and will battle with freshman Joshua Couchman for the starting spot here.
285
Seniors Kody Bellamy and Greg Biben both return at heavyweight.
Bellamy went 8-7 a year ago wrestling primarily at 197 and Biben went 14-10 as the back up to graduated senior All-American Cody Lovejoy at heavyweight last winter.
Freshman Nicholas Hogenbirk will challenge Bellamy and Biben for the starting spot at 285 this season.