Wrestlers Aim to Build Depth and Momentum in 2009-10

Posted: Nov 05, 2009

BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team will seek to both build depth and momentum during the 2009-2010 season. Veteran Head Coach Rich Fleming, who begins his 22nd season at BW, welcomes back 10 lettermen and six starters from his team of a year ago. The Yellow Jackets enter the season picked fifth in the Ohio Athletic Conference Wrestling Coaches poll for both the OAC dual match format and at the 2010 OAC Championship Tournament on February 20 at Mount Union College.

The Yellow Jackets open the season this Saturday, November 7 by hosting the annual BW Quad Meet.

The returning starters are sophomore Jeremy Dombrady (Copley) at 125 pounds, junior Phil Payne (Woodmere/ Orange) at 133 pounds, senior Eric Schubert (Oberlin) at 141 pounds, junior Korey Leonhard (Kinsman/ Pymatuning Valley) at 157 pounds, junior 2009 Ohio Athletic Conference champion and NCAA Division III national qualifier Andrew Scavuzzo (Cuyahoga Falls/ Woodridge) at 174 pounds and senior 285-pounder Terence Haynes (Brunswick Hills/ Glenville). The other returning lettermen, all who started a year ago at one point or another, include sophomore 141-pounder Grant Steward (Columbus/ Worthington Kilbourne), sophomore 157-pounder Tim Levitsky (Parma/ Senior), sophomore 165-pounder Mike Hosta (Hinckley/ Medina Highland) and junior 197-pounder Cody Quick (Mount Vernon).

Dombrady, who didn't join the team until after the winter break period, posted five wins as a freshman. He had 13 takedowns. He looks to improve this winter as an experienced sophomore at 125.

Payne, who was injured much of last season, returns after wrestling at 141 pounds and posting three wins as sophomore. This year, he will compete in the 133-weight class and compete with freshman Danny Huffman (Maple Heights) for mat time.

At 141 pounds, both Schubert and Steward have experience and will battle each other for a starting position.Schubert had a 6-12 mark a year ago and 6-17 overall and Steward was 2-9.

The 149-weight class is held by freshman Zander Habash (Copley) and either Schubert or Steward can step up a weight class if necessary.

Levitsky moves up to 157 pounds this winter and Leonhard moves down to face off to earn starting rights. As a freshman, Levitsky competed at 141 pounds and posted three takedowns. Leonhard competed at 184 and 174 as a junior with an overall record of 7-15. He should be much better suited to compete at 157.

Freshman Joe Georgian (Easlake/ Villa Angela-St. Joseph) will compete with Hosta at 165 pounds. In addition, Hosta can compete up at either 174 and 184. A year ago, he had a 2-8 slate, splitting time betwen 165 and 174.

Scavuzzo will compete at 174 pounds and is still extremely competitive at 184. He won the 174-pound title at the OAC Tournament and earned the right to compete at the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championships. He posted an overall record of 24-11 and was 6-0 in OAC duals. The Yellow Jackets will look to Scavuzzo for leadership and experience on the mats this winter.

Look for junior Quick to be the 197-pounder. A year ago, he moved around the lineup and wrestled at 165, 197 and 285. He had an overall mark of 1-10.

At 285 pounds, sophomore Ryan Jones (Uniontown/ Lake), who did not wrestle a year ago but played football, will seek mat time with Haynes.

Haynes competed in his first season of wresting as a junior at the age of 46 after returning to finish his college degree. His story was much-celebrated a year ago by ESPN on its show E:60 and can be viewed on-lineHERE. He finished the season 2-13 overall with three takedowns.

FOR MORE BW Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Nick Minerd by phone at 440-826-2780 and e-mail at nminerd@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.