Oswego Preview

Oswego State Lakers
Head Coach: Mike Howard
Years at School as head coach: 21
Career Record at school: 129-201-6
Assistant Coaches: Tenkoran Agyeman, Derrick Smith, Vince Minnici

2008-2009 Dual Meet Record: 5-10
2008-2009 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Derrick Smith (141/NQ)
Number of returning wrestlers who competed in your 2009 national qualifier: 7

Top returning starters:
125 – Scott McGregor (SO) 17-17 record as a freshman
141 – Mike Howard Jr. (SR) 13 – 7 record @ 149
149 – Blake Fisher (SO) 21-11 record as a freshman, 4th Empire
157 – Tony DeFranco (JR) 3rd Empire
165 – Cam Mills (JR) 16-5 record
197 – Joel Ford (JR)18-5 record before season ending injury
285 – Eric Leusch (SR) 4th Empire

Top incoming wrestlers:  Kyle Sheridan 215 lbs, Devan VanAuken 215 lbs and Anthony Facchini 112 lbs all qualified for the 2009 NYS High School Championships.  Matt Callari and Omar Santiago both finished 2nd in state championship qualifier their senior year. Two transfers Charlie Nunez (133) and Joe Pesce (285) also finished second in NY State high school qualifier.

The Lakers will be much more experienced this season as graduation took only two starters although they will need to replace 3x NCAA qualifer Derrick Smith at 141 pounds.  21 athletes return from last seasons team and will give the team a veteran presence as they prepare for a tough dual meet schedule and the competitive Empire Conference Tournament.  133 and 184 are weights where freshman may challenge to start right away, and a few NY state qualifiers will challenge at other weights. Juniors Cam Mills and Joel Ford will move up the 174 and 285, respectively as Oswego hopes to again be represented at the NCAA tournament.