North Central Preview
North Central College Cardinals
Head Coach: Kevin Bratland
Years at School as head coach: 5
Career Record at School: 57-18-1
Assistant Coaches: Karl Bratland, Craig Becker, Joe Norton, Vinnie Sapienza, Joe Norton, Derrick Martin
2010-2011 Dual Meet Record: 6-1 (4th Great Lakes)
2010-2010 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Nathan Fitzenreider (133, 3rd); Andrew Zobac (141, NQ); Eric Oyster (149, NQ)
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: Fitzenreider, Zobac, and Oyster
Top Returning starters:
133 Nathan Fitzenreider (AA) – 37-3 – Sr.
141 Andrew Zobac (NQ) – 40-9 – Sr.
149 Eric Oyster (NQ) – 19-9 – So.
157 Joby Bodi – 25-11 – Sr.
165 Jason Bonham – 21-14 – Jr.
Top incoming wrestlers:
Joseph DeLeon – NV State Place winner, 2nd
Brian Dyer – IL 2x State Champion, Transfer
Josh Flamme – IN State Place winner, 6th
Brayan Gonzalez – IL State place winner, 5th
Dylan Mahler – MI State place winner, 7th
Phillip Norton – IL State place winner, 2nd
Blake Olson – IL State place winner, 3rd
Steve Liaromatis – IL State place winner, 3rd
Nathan Segal – FL state qualifier
Damon Wilson- IL state qualifier
Justin Zimmerman – MI state place winner, 2nd, 2nd , Transfer
Season outlook:
With three returning national qualifiers, North Central is already on their way to another good season. Nathan Fitzenreider shook off a disappointing 2010 NCAA tournament to come back and place 3rd last year to enter 2011-2012 as one of the favorites to win it all. Zobac was in the round of 12, while Oyster dropped both of his matches. Also returning are 20 match winners Joby Bodi and Jason Bonham at 157 and 165. Some newcomers will make the North Central lineup in 2011, as numerous state placewinners join this year’s squad. The most intriguing newcomer is transfer Brian Dyer, a former 2x Illinois state champ. He was a 2003 high school graduate who wrestled at Indiana for a time, but appears to have been out of competitive wrestling for at least five years. He wrestled 133 at Indiana, so it will be interesting to see where he fits in with Fitzenreider, Zobac, and Oyster. Added into that group is Central Michigan transfer Justin Zimmerman who also wrestled 133 in his one year at CMU. If the Cardinals can get their best guys in the lineup all at once, they will be a tough team to beat.