Complete All-OAC Wrestling Teams and Special Awards
BEREA, OHIO -- The 2016 Ohio Athletic Conference champion and 19th-ranked Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team landed nine of its 10 starters on this year's All-OAC squad, and fifth-year Head Coach Jamie Gibbs is the OAC Coach of the Year.
Named to the All-OAC first-team are senior two-time Division III All-American 133-pounder Jesse Gunter (Akron/ Coventry), freshman 165-pounder Anthony Arroyo (Maumee), senior All-American 174-pounder Garrett Chase (Erie, Pa./ Cathedral Prep), sophomore 197-pounder Tyler Maclellan (Medina/ Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) and senior 285-pounder Joe Belford (Berea/ Lakewood St. Edward). Named to the second-team are sophomore 125-pounder Chris Doyle (Akron/ Green), senior 149-pounder Joe Schmidt (Hinckley/ Brunswick), freshman 157-pounder Richie Burke (Ithaca, N.Y./ Ithaca) and senior 184-pounder Ben LeBrun (Strongsville).
Gibbs receives his first OAC Coach of the Year award. This season, he led the Yellow Jackets to an 18-8 overall record. The 18 victories is a single-season school-record. Gibbs also leb BW to its first OAC title since 1973 and a perfect 5-0 conference record. That followed a 17-5 mark last season and equals a combined mark of 35-13 the past two seasons. In addition, Gibbs has elevated the BW schedule to among the toughest in Division III. This season, the Jackets faced nine nationally-ranked opponents in dual matches and had a 4-5 slate.
Gunter becomes the first Yellow Jacket wrestler to earn All-OAC honors four straight years, including being a three-time All-OAC choice. The No.2-ranked 133-pounder in Division III enters the 2016 Mideast Regional Tournament Saturday, February 27) and Sunday at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania with a 27-1 record this season and a 113-13 career mark to rank second all-time in school history. He placed third at the 2014 NCAA Div. III National Tournament and fourth a year ago. He also carries a 3.4 grade point average and is a two-time National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American and is the Haier Achievement National Collegiate Student-Athlete for the Month of February. He is a two-time OAC Wrestler of the Week this season and a four-time award-winner during his career.
Arroyo battled with two other grapplers for the starting job when four-year starter and senior 2014 Division III national qualifier David Shapiro (Beachwood), went down with an injury just after Christmas. Arroyo stepped in and produced a 16-4 record, including a perfect 4-0 mark against OAC foes with a pair of pins. He was the OAC Wrestler of the Week on Feb. 15.
Chase earns his second straight first-team honor. The eighth-ranked 174-pounder in Division III is BW's single-season leader in wins this season with 28. In his career he has a 124-35 record, which makes him the all-time victory leader at BW. This season, Chase has fashioned a 28-5 slate, including a perfect 4-0 mark against OAC foes. All of his losses are to nationally-ranked foes. A year ago, he placed seventh at the 2015 NCAA Div. III National Tournament. Chase is a three-time OAC Wrestler of the Week during his career, including once this season.
Maclellan joins Chase in earning his second straight first-team accolade. He has started since walking on campus two years ago and produced a 23-13 slate this season and a 39-20 career mark. Maclellan, who carries a 3.755 grade point average, also is an Academic All-OAC and NWCA Scholar All-American selection.
Belford earns his first All-OAC award and is having his best season as a collegian. He enters tomorrow's regional tournament at Lycoming with a 21-15 record and had a 2-1 mark against OAC opposition. Belford has two 20-win campaigns during his career and has a 67-52 career record to rank in a tie for 24th all-time in career wins.
Doyle earns his first All-OAC honor and also is having his best season as a collegian. He has compiled a 24-15 record, including a marquee win against the then No.2-ranked 125-pounder in Div. III. Doyle had a 3-1 mark against OAC foes with his only loss coming by just one point. He had an 18-13 mark as a freshman and is 42-28 in his career.
Schmidt earns his first All-OAC award and is a four-year starter. He has two 20-win seasons to his credit, including a career-high 27 as a sophomore. This season, Schmidt has a 19-8 mar, including a 3-1 record versus OAC foes. One more win and he will have a third 20-win campaign. He has 83 career wins and an 83-55 career record and stands 16th all-time in wins. Schmidt also earned an OAC Wrestler of the Week award as a sophomore.
Burke is one of two freshmen in the starting lineup and earned the spot by beating out two juniors who alternated as starters their first two seasons. He had a 23-15 overall mark, including a 3-0 record versus OAC opponents. Burke has won 13 of his last 15 matches and is this week's OAC Wrestler of the Week.
LeBrun earns his first All-OAC award and is another of the six four-year senior starters (including Shapiro at 165 pounds). He had a 21-14 mark this season, including a 4-0 mark in OAC action. His 91 career wins and 91-58 career mark ranks 12th all-time. He has three 20-win seasons to his credit and had a career-high 27 wins last season and 26 as a sophomore. In addition, LeBrun carries a 3.78 grade point average and is a three-time Academic All-OAC selection and a two-time NWCA Scholar All-American.
The 19th-ranked Yellow Jackets are back in action when they travel to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to compete at the NCAA Mideast Regional hosted by Lycoming (Pa.) College inside the Lamade Gym. The regional is a two-day event starting on Saturday, February 27 at 6 p.m. and will continue on Sunday, February 28 at 10 a.m.