Ohio Northern Preview

Ohio Northern University Polar Bears
Head Coach: Ron Beaschler
Years at School as head coach: 22
Career Record at school:  206-165-4
Assistant Coaches: Jason Brew, Jay Salge, David Penny, Collin Swick and Greg Lalla

2008-2009 Dual Meet Record: 12-11
2008-2009 All-American:  Luke Miller, 157, 4th
Returning All-American:  Luke Miller, 157, 4th
Number of returning wrestlers who competed in 2009 national qualifier: 6

Top returning starters:
Jeff Penny (Sr) 3rd OAC 133
Joe Spooner (So) 2nd OAC 141
Mick Letcher (So) 3rd OAC
Luke Miller (Jr) 4th NCAA, 1st OAC, OW OAC 157
Billy Painter (So) 3rd OAC 165
Matt Alexander (So) 3rd OAC 184
Joe Fisher (Jr) Inj at midseason 285

Top incoming wrestlers
Top Freshmen:  Garrett Freeman  (Proj 141) Ohio State Qualifier; Lucian Freeman (proj 149) Ohio State Qualifier; Jeremy Jones (Proj 133) Ohio State Qualifier; Brent Kramp (Proj 149) Ohio State qualifier; Kyle Kwiat (proj. 165-174) 3x state placer OH, 6th, 5th, 3rd ; Bryan Martineck (Proj 174) Ohio State Qualifier;

Transfers: Nathan Jones (197) transfer from Bucknell, 2008 State Champ Ohio (2x placer), 2x AAU All-American, 2007 Junior Olympics Gold Medalist; Kyle Raber (proj 174) 3x Ohio state qualifier, placed 7th 2007.

Unseeded coming in, Luke Miller made it all the way to the 157 semifinal before finishing in 4th place.  Now, he will be one of the top ranked wrestlers at that weight as the 2009-2010 season begins for Ohio Northern.  With six OAC placewinners back, they will again be in the thick of things competing with Heidelberg and John Carroll for the conference title.  Aiding in that effort will be a solid freshman class full of Ohio state qualifiers as well as a couple of transfers including Nathan Jones, who started at 197 for Bucknell last year.  Also of note, Jeff Penny will move down to 125 this year after three years at 133.