2012-2013 UW-La Crosse Preview

UW La Crosse Eagles (Midwest Region)
Head Coach: Dave Malecek
Years at School as head coach: 7
Career Record at school: 97-17-1
Assistant Coaches: Ross Needham, Josh Passe, Ryan Farwell, Bebeto Yewah

Facebook: UW La Crosse Wrestling

2011-2012 Dual Meet Record:18-2 overall 5-0 in WIAC
2011-2012 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Adam Sheley (133, 6th), Bebeto Yewah (141, 2nd), Kevin O’Brien (165, 4th), Michael Schmitz (174, 3rd), Billy Mayer (285, 5th)
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans (any year): Adam Sheley 2x All American 133-141, Billy Mayer 2x All American HWT, Kevin O’Brien All American 165

Top returning starters:
Sheley 2x All American
Mayer 2x All-American
O’Brien NCAA All American
JR Lewis Sr. 157# 3rd @WIAC
Grant Miller Sr 174# 3rd at WIAC
Scott Hogan Sr. 149#
Brady Schrupp Sr. 149# 4th at WIAC

Top incoming wrestlers: Mitchel Lexvold 125-133 2x Champ Mn, Cody See 133 3x Champ Wi, Izzy Balsiger 4x Placer and Champ 125# Wi, Jess Hahn 2x Ia Placewinner 141, Keegan Einerson 3x Wi Placer 141-149 Kevin Hein Soph 197# Transfer Wartburg.

Season outlook:
Three returning All-Americans will form the backbone of the UW-Lax team in 2o12-2013. Adam Sheley and Billy Mayer are both senior 2x All-Americans, and each will be in the hunt for an individual NCAA championship this year. Sheley starts the year at 141, but he may drop to 133 in the second half. Mayer is entrenched at 285 and sits at #4 in both sets of preseason rankings. Kevin O’Brien surprised some last year with his run to the semifinals and eventual 4th place finish at 165, and big things will be expected out of him this season. The rest of the lineup could be in some flux this year with as many as seven different starters at the beginning of the year. A nice freshman class builds up some of the depth the team has lacked in recent seasons, and they will have a chance to make an impact.