Austintown, Ohio – November 6, 2009 - The defending Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champion Heidelberg University wrestling team has been selected to successfully defend both titles in 2009-10 according to the OAC Preseason Poll released today by the league office. The poll is voted on by league head coaches.
Nationally ranked Heidelberg claimed five first-place votes in the OAC Tournament poll, while receiving six first place votes for the regular season. Mount Union College was picked to finish second in the tournament, while finishing third in the regular season including a first-place vote. Claiming third in the tournament is Ohio Northern University, while selected to finish second in the regular season. Both polls had fourth through seventh identical. John Carroll University stands fourth, while Baldwin-Wallace College rounds out the top-five. Muskingum University was voted to finish sixth and Wilmington College was picked seventh.
Heidelberg is under the guidance of four-time OAC Coach of the Year Jason Miller, Miller has guided the Berg to the Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season Title three of the last four years and the OAC Tournament Championship the last four-consecutive seasons. Along the way he has picked up a consistent spot in the national rankings, both on the mat and in the classroom.
Leading the Berg are three returning national qualifiers senior Zach Mizer (Canton, Ohio / Perry), junior Tony Lawler (West Jefferson, Ohio / West Jefferson), and junior Matt Curley (Brecksville, Ohio / Lakewood).
Lawler and Curley are both defending OAC Champions. Lawler opens the season ranked fifth at 133 pounds, while Curley stands at eighth at 165 pounds. Also opening the year among the nation’s top ranked wrestlers is Zach Mizer who is ranked eighth at 157 pounds.
Heidelberg opens its season when they host Olivet College on Nov. 10 and duals begin on Nov. 16 in Olivet, Mich. OAC competition starts Dec. 1 at Wilmington College.
OAC Tournament
1. HEID 35 pts (5)
2. MTU 29 pts (2)
3. ONU 27 pts
4. JCU 23 pts
5. B-W 15 pts
6. MUSK 12 pts
7. WILM 6 pts
OAC Regular Season
1. HEID 36 pts (6)
2. ONU 28 pts
3. MTU 27 pts (1)
4. JCU 23 pts
5. B-W 14
6. MUSK 13 pts
7. WILM 6 pts
