2012-2013 Thiel Preview

Thiel College Tomcats (Mideast Region)
Head Coach: Craig Thurber
Years at School as head coach: 10th
Assistant Coaches: Jeff Linn (11th season), Corey Brown (GA), Kraig Smith (GA)

2011-2012 Dual Meet Record: 9-6
2011-2012 NCAA Qualifiers and All-Americans: Corey Brown (8th, 133)

Top returning starters:
141- Sean Byham, So. (20-16) – 6th place at MW Regional
149- Shawn King, Jr. (9-14) – 2011 PAC runner-up
157- Jerrold Roosa, So. (15-11)
157- Matt Butler, Sr. (7-15) – 2011 PAC runner-up
174- Jacob Lowry, So. (29-6)-  2nd Midwest Region,  2011 PAC Champion
184- Stephen Ceremuga, So. (13-8) – 2011 PAC Champion
285- Will Ringer, Sr. (14-12) – 5th place at MW Regional

Top incoming wrestlers:
Shawn Reynolds (Cambridge Springs, 197 lb.) – 102 Wins, 2-time PIAA qualifier, 8th place as a senior
Blake Heim (Reynolds, 285 lb.) – 124 wins, 2-time PIAA qualifier, 3rd place as a senior
Trent Keisling (Lemon Bay, Florida, 174 lb.) – 184 wins, 140 pins, 2-time state placer, 5th in 2011, 3rd in 2012
Adriene Whaley-Hazel (Owings Mills, Maryland, 149 lb.) – 121 wins, 2-time state qualifier, 5th in 2012
Dan Yori (Erie Cathedral Prep, 133 lb.) – 77 wins, PIAA qualifier in 2012

Season outlook:
Defending Presidents’ Athletic Conference Champions (PAC) Thiel College, looks to have a strong team after losing two of its top seniors from 2011-12 to graduation, Corey Brown and Matt Lowry. Coming off a season in which they boasted an overall record of 9-6 (1-1 PAC), the Tomcats look to improve and make another run at the PAC title this coming season. Sophomore Jake Lowry will lead the Tomcats after an impressive freshman season in which he posted 29 wins and placed second at the Midwest Regional Qualifier. Along with Lowry, Thiel returns senior heavyweight Will Ringer, who posted 14 wins last season, to go along with a fifth-place finish at the Midwest Regional. Along with the returning upperclassmen, Thiel has brought in yet another strong freshmen class including a pair of PA placewinners in Shawn Reynolds and Blake Heim.