Cornell Preview

Fresh of a trip to Beijing as a member of the Olympic coaching staff, Mike Duroe returns to lead Cornell for a fourth season in 2008-2009.  Three time All-American Chris Heilman has moved on along with 2008 placer Pat McCauley, but All-Americans Nick Nothern and Kyle Kehrli as well as NCAA qualifiers Josiah Payne and Dave Paramski return to lead Cornell into IIAC and NCAA competition.  Joining the coaching staff this year is former Iowa All-American Ty Eustice.  He replaces Joe Johnston, a teammate of his while at Iowa.  The 8-12 record from a year ago is not indicative of the talent on the team, as Cornell dualed 11 ranked teams in 2007-2008 and finished 7th in the NCAA.  An accomplished group of freshmen will head to Mount Vernon this fall including Illinois state champ Zach Wilson and other state placers like Jake Schwebke, Andrew Roberts, Nicholas Loughlin, and Joseph Hambleton.  Seventh place will be tough to top in 2009, but the foundation is there for another good season at Cornell.

Team: Cornell College
Head Coach: Mike Duroe (Drake ’78)
Years at School as head coach: fourth season
Career Record at school: 37-29-1
Assistant Coaches: Ty Eustice, Andrew Knaack, Greg Murphy
2007-08 Dual Meet Record: 8-12
2007-08 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Chris Heilman (125/3rd), Kyle Kehrli (174/6th), Nick Nothern (133/6th), Pat McAuley (7th/157), Josiah Payne (285/NQ)
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: Kehrli, Nothern, Payne, Dave Paramski (141/NQ/2006)

Top returning starters: 133 Nick Nothern 2x NQ, 6th NCAA, 2x IIAC placer; 174 Kyle Kehrli 6th NCAA; 285 Josiah Payne NCAA qualifier; 149 Dave Paramski 2006 National qualifier; IIAC Placers: 141 Kevin Donahue, 149 Ryan Mulnix

Top incoming wrestlers: Zach Wilson IL state champ 2x placer, Jake Schwebke IA placer, Andrew Roberts 2x IA placer, Nicholas Loughlin 3x IA placer, Joseph Hambleton 2x KS placer, Tigue Snider IA placer; State Qualifiers: Michael Buhr, Owen McKinley, Wesley Schoo, Kurt Strope, Ben Treat