2013-2014 Thiel Preview

Thiel College Tomcats
Head Coach: Craig Thurber
Years at School as head coach: 11th
Assistant Coaches: Jeff Linn (12th season), Corey Brown (GA), Kraig Smith (GA)

2012-2013 Dual Meet Record: 11-7
2012-2013 NCAA Qualifiers and All-Americans: Jordan Powell (7th, 165)
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: Powell (Junior)

Top returning starters:
133- Nick Sutton, So. (23-17 as a freshman starter)
149- Adam Matthews, Jr. (19-3 in 2013)
157- Sean Byham, Jr. (7-6 in 2013, missed most of last year with an injury, two-year starter)
165- Jordan Powell, Jr. (19-7, 3rd place at Midwest Regional, 7th NCAA)
184- Jerrold Roosa, Jr. (28-11 in 2013)
197- Jacob Lowry, Jr. (18-2)
285- Blake Heim, So. (19-8 as a freshman starter)

Top incoming wrestlers:
Trevor Wood (Bentworth, 133 lb.) – 108 wins
Robert Ritschard (Oley Valley, 141 lb.) – 135 wins
Chris Nuss (Pittsburg Central Catholic, 149 lb) – 1st at Sectional
Demetrius Johnson (Owing Mills, 157 lb) – Over 150 career wins, Four-time Maryland state qualifier, one-time state champion (as a sophomore), Runner –up (as a senior)

Season outlook:
Coming off a season in which they boasted an overall record of 11-7 (1-1 PAC), the Tomcats look to improve and make a run at the Mideast Region title this coming season. Among the team’s top returners are sophomore Nick Sutton, juniors Adam Matthews, Jordan Powell, Jake Lowry, and sophomore Blake Heim. All five were recently honored in the d3wrestle.com preseason rankings. As a returning all-American, Powell was ranked third at 165-pounds, while Lowry was ranked as the number-8 197-pounder in NCAA Division III. Sutton was just one match away from qualifying for nationals as a freshman at 133, while Matthews, Lowry, and Powell each won PAC titles. Heim put together a 19-8 freshman campaign, splitting time with then-senior Will Ringer, who has since graduated, with Heim expected to pick up even more mat time his second season with the Tomcats. Thiel also boasts an incoming class of accomplished wrestlers looking to fill openings in the lineup and push the upperclassmen for starting spots.