Olivet College Preview

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Olivet returns most of its strong team from a year ago, highlighted of course by 174 lb. runner-up Kyle Vanderhyde. There is also some anticipated shifts in weight as Jason Brew returns to his more natural 157 and 184 lb. qualifier Daron Cruickshank drops to 165. As the only Division III team in Michigan, Coach Hibbs has done a good job convincing talented Michigan wrestlers to stay home. “Lahar and Birmingham are obviously very nice additions to our program, but we also believe that this class has talent throughout. They should make our room a lot more competitive, and add some welcome depth,” adds Coach Hibbs. They have the talent to challenge Delaware Valley for the Midwest Regional title, and it will come down to who performs the best on that day. Hibbs adds, “We don’t have as much national level experience as we would like to carry with us, but we are excited about the rise in talent level and the training ethic now in our program. The announcement of a new wrestling facility in the next year also has created a degree of anticipation. This season will be mostly about whether we can mature as a team and be ready to compete in the important regional and national events. As a team, we have not yet broken through at that level, and that’s obviously the greater goal.”

School: Olivet College
Head Coach: Todd Hibbs
Years at School: Fourth Season
Assistant Coaches: Tedd Engle, Jeff Therrian
Student Assistants: Jeff Wright, Joel Rozeboom

2006-2007 Dual Meet Record: 13-6-1
2007 NCAA Place: 21st
2007 National Qualifying Tournament Place: 2nd MW Regional

Returning NCAA Qualifiers and All-Americans:
174 – Kyle Vanderhyde, 2nd
165 – Daron Cruickshank, Q at 184

Total Number of Returning Starters: 8

Notable Incoming Freshmen:
125 – Abe Abdulla (Dearborn Fordson), State finishes of 1st and 4th in Division I
141 – Jesse Bain (Hartland), 4-time Division I placer
141/149 – Ben Hitchcock (Eastern Michigan transfer, Montrose) 3-time placer, State Champ
149 – Vince Lahar (Clio), 3-time state champion
157/165 – Blake Birmingham (Central Michigan transfer, Battle Creek Lakeview) State Champion 2006
197 – Jason Weatherspoon (Napoleon) State finishes of 1st and 3rd

Projected Lineup:

125: Kyle Labrecque/Blair Mellish/Abe Abdulla
133: Blake Gardner/Adam Wilson
141: Rob Yahrmarkt/Jesse Bain/Ben Hitchcock
149: Vince Lahar/Ben Hitchcock
157: Jason Brew
165: Daron Cruickshank
174: Kyle Vanderhyde
184: Joe Bargerstock/Aaron Stewart (back from USMC in Iraq)
197: Joey Yurisich/Tucker Surbrook/Jason Weatherspoon
285: Sean Misko