BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College wrestling team opens the 2005-2006 season when it hosts the B-W Quad Meet in the Ursprung Gymnasium of the Lou Higgns Center in Berea on Saturday, November 12 at 12:00 noon. Cleveland cross-town rival Case Western Reserve University, Waynesburg College of Pennstlvania and the College of Mount St. Joseph also will compete.
The Yellow Jackets are looking forward to a strong and promising season in 2005-2006. Under the direction of 18-year veteran Head Coach Rich Fleming, B-W will sport a team that has solid veteran leadership, returning upperclass depth and a strong group of newcomers who hope to make B-W even better than a year ago.
Last season, the Yellow Jackets finished with an 8-16 overall record and were 3-3 in Ohio Athletic Conference dual matches. The team finished fourth at the OAC Chamionship Tournament and tied for 34th at the NCAA Division III National Championships. This season, Fleming's Yellow Jackets were picked to finish third in the OAC Coaches preseason poll.
This year, the Yellow Jackets return 15 letterman and eight starters and will be led by senior All-American 197-pounder Devin Carman, who finished last season with a 28-5 overall record, won an OAC individual title and finished eighth at the Div. III National tourney. He also was ranked by the Adidas-Brute National poll as high as seventh.
In addition, senior two-time All-OAC 285-pounder Bryan Kmetz, who was 21-6 a year ago and earned the B-W 19th Annual John Summa Tournament Most Valuable Wrestler Award and was second at the OAC Tournament, will be another key. Kmetz was also ranked nationally in the Adidas-Brute poll during the season. Some other top Yellow Jackets include sophomore 157-pounder Gino Russo (13-13 record a year ago), senior 157/ 165-pounder Steve Vaughn (9-10), senior 174-pounder T. Terry (16-21), senior 184-pounder Sterling Sebak (12-9). The other returning starters are Mike Ham at 125 pounds (5-13), Chris Harrold at 133 pounds (6-14) and Scott Haber at 141 pounds (5-17). In addition, Fleming has a number of other veterans and a solid group of newcomers who hope to make B-W better.
Following its matches today, the Yellow Jacket wrestlers will be back in action on November 19 when they travel to Olivet, Michigan to participate in the annual Olivet College Duals at 9:00 a.m.
275 Eastland Rd.