Trine Preview

Trine University Thunder
Head Coach: Dan Callahan
Years at School as head coach: 5
Career Record at school: 34-31-1
Assistant Coaches: Mike Ester, John Sheets, Nathan Devaux

2008-2009 Dual Meet Record: 11-5
Number of returning wrestlers who competed in 2009 national qualifier: 8

Top returning starters:
174/184 Nick Kraus Sr, 29-5, Regional Runner-up 2008, 3rd 2009
141 Thomas Pompei, Sr 12-2, 3rd Regional 2008
184/197 – Alex Fleet Jr 30-9, 3rd Regional 2008
157/165 Kyle Long SO 26-15 Regional Runner-up 2009
125 Brandon Harvey SO 27-14
157/165 George Markou SO 19-15

Top incoming wrestlers:
149 Elias Larsen FR, 2X Illinois State Placer, 2009 Illinois 145lb State Champion, Marion Catholic High School
141/149 Trace Hall FR, 3X IN state placer South Bend Riley High School,
285 Dylan Forbes, SO 2008 IN State qualifier 215# transfer from Defiance College
133 Will Sheets 4th IN 2008, Bellmont High School
174 Caleb Norville 6th IN 2008, transfer from Olivet College
197 Ben Wines FR 3rd in MI Div IV 2009,  Pittsford High School
197 Robert Blake FR 8th in OH 2009 Tinora High School

Trine begins its fifth year of competition, and hopes are high to have their first national qualifier.  Four 25 match winners are back and a solid set of freshmen will join the team.  After finishing third in the regional to nationally ranked Delaware Valley and Olivet, the team is poised to have another successful season.  The team has good upperclass representation with seniors Nick Kraus and Thomas Pompei (both moving up a weight this year) and junior Alex Fleet, but they also have good young wrestlers, as Kyle Long and Brandon Harvey each had outstanding rookie seasons.  The recruiting class features six state placewinners including Illinois state champ Elias Larsen who should challenge for a starting spot right away.