Trine Preview

Trine University
Head Coach: Dan Callahan
Years at School as head coach: 6
Career Record at school:  46 – 39 – 1
Assistant Coaches: Mike Ester, Nathan DeVaux, Tim Bradley

2009-2010 Dual Meet Record: 12- 7
2009-2010 National Qualifier: Nick Kraus (184)

Number of returning wrestlers who competed in 2010 national qualifier: 6

Top returning starters:
Brandon Harvey – 125 5th Regional 2009
Will Sheets – 133 4th Regional 2010
Elias Larson – 149
Ryan Pieper – 174 2nd Regional 2010
George Markou – 165 2nd Regional 2010
Alex Fleet – 197 2nd Regional 2008, 3rd Regional 2009, 3rd Regional 2010
Dylan Forbes-  285 5th Regional 2010

Top incoming wrestlers:
Adam Fahs 3rd in MI Div 1 140lbs,
John Tanner 4X MI Placer Div 3 145lbs,
Justin Beck 2nd IN 140 lbs,
Danny Lopez   2X WA State placer 215 and 189.
Dalton Sparks 2X IN State Placer 145 & 152

Season outlook:
Trine is still a relatively new team, but head coach Dan Callahan has made great strides building depth in the five years of Trine wrestling, and the program took a big step in getting its first NCAA qualifier in 2010.  That qualifier has graduated, but a talented and deep team is left behind that is solid up and down the lineup. Six former regional placewinners return, along with 30 match winner Elias Larson who is coming of a successful freshman season.  Senior Alex Fleet has been close to qualifying all three years, and he is one Trine wrestler hoping the departure of Delaware Valley for the Metro Conference will help him get over the hump.  Additionally, Ryan Pieper and George Markou were regional runners up that can guarantee a trip to the NCAA tournament by getting one step higher on the podium.  The Thunder should definitely challenge for the team title at the Midwest Regional in 2010-2011.