Wrestling Selected to Defend OAC Titles
The defending Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champion Heidelberg College wrestling team has been selected to successfully defend both titles in 2008-09 according to the OAC Preseason Poll released today by the league office. The poll is voted on by the head coaches.
The regular season, or dual meet poll, worked its way out to have the same predicted standings as the tournament. Heidelberg claimed six first-place votes in both polls followed by John Carroll with one vote in each. Ohio Northern University stands third, while Baldwin-Wallace College and Mount Union College round out the top-five. Muskingum College was voted to finish sixth and Wilmington College was picked seventh.
Heidelberg, under the guidance of three-time OAC Coach of the Year Jason Miller, has won three-straight league tournament titles and two out of the last three regular season trophies. In six years under Miller’s guidance the Berg has produced a top-three finish every year. The Berg posted an 11-2 dual record in 2007-08, including an unblemished 6-0 league mark. Heidelberg spent the entire year ranked in the nation and open this year ranked 18th in the Brute/Adidas National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Preseason Poll and have four wrestlers ranked individually.
Sophomore Jerrad Hoxie (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Northern) opens the year ranked 10th at 125 pounds. The returning OAC Champion and national qualifier posted an overall record of 31-15 and a 4-0 record against league foes in his freshman campaign. He led the team with 66 takedowns.
Joining Hoxie as a returning OAC Champion and national qualifier is junior Zach Mizer (Canton, Ohio / Perry), who is ranked 10th at 157 pounds. Mizer is coming off a sophomore season that saw him finish at 29-10 overall and 5-0 in league matches at 149 pounds. He led the way on the team with eight falls and 25 three-point near falls, while recording 47 takedowns.
Also opening the year among the nation’s top ranked wrestlers is junior Boomer Fechko (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick). Fechko just missed the national tournament a season ago and returns carrying a 16-6 record (2-0 OAC) from his time at 133 pounds. He currently is ranked ninth at 133 pounds, but will look to possibly make an impact this season at 141.
Looking to build on his national preseason ranking of six at 285 pounds is senior Robbie Brubeck (Findlay, Ohio / Findlay). A season ago, Brubeck opened at 9-0 and was ranked among the nations elite before suffering an injury. In just nine matches Brubeck posted two falls and 17 takedowns.
Heidelberg prides itself on battling with the top teams in the nation. The year opens at nationally ranked and Division II power Ashland University for an open Nov. 15 and duals begin at no. 16 Olivet College Nov. 18. OAC competition starts under the light at Seiberling Gymnasium Dec. 2 with Muskingum College.
2008-09 OAC Dual Meet Poll (first-place votes)
1. Heidelberg (6)
2. John Carroll (1)
3. Ohio Northern
4. Baldwin-Wallace
5. Mount Union
6. Muskingum
7. Wilmington
2008-09 OAC Touranment Poll (first-place votes)
1. Heidelberg (6)
2. John Carroll (1)
3. Ohio Northern
4. Baldwin-Wallace
5. Mount Union
6. Muskingum
7. Wilmington