BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team and Head Coach Jamie Gibbs look to defend its Ohio Athletic Conference Championship in 2016-17.

Gibbs returns 16 letterwinners from the last year's squad that racked up a school-record 18 dual match wins and finished second at the NCAA Mideast Regional. Along with the returners, Gibbs and his coaching staff welcome 14 newcomers that will look to contribute this season.  

"We have a great group of leaders and a lot of young talented grapplers that will contribute this season," proclaimed Gibbs. "Our team has been working hard at practice and knows that we will have to be at our best every time we compete to achieve our goals."

BW returns five All-OAC performers in senior David Shapiro (Beachwood), juniors Tyler Maclellan (Medina/Cuyahoga Valley Christan Academy) and Chris Doyle (Akron/Green) and sophomores Anthony Arroyo (Maumee) and Richie Burke (Ithaca, N.Y.).  In 2015-16, Maclellan and Arroyo were named to the first-team while Doyle and Burke were tabbed as second-team selections.

Shapiro, a second-team All-OAC selection in 2014-15, had his season cut short last year due to an injury.  He has a career record of 104-40 and finished 20th at the 2015 NCAA Championships.

Maclellan, a NCAA Division III national qualifier at 197 pounds, earned his second straight first-team honor last season.  He was an All-OAC Academic selection and a National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American. Maclellan finished the season with a record of 27-15 and a second place finish at the Mideast Regional Championships.  

Arroyo was a first-team selection and a D3wrestling.com All-Freshman first-team selection as a freshman. He posted record of 24-9 and finished fifth at the Mideast Regional at 165 pounds.

Doyle had his best season to date with an overall record of 26-17 at 125 pounds and a 3-1 record in conference dual matches. Burke, finished fifth at the Mideast Regional and had a 26-17 overall mark with a 3-0 record against OAC competition.

In addition, senior Josh Decatur (Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) returns this season with the most experience and leadership.  Decatur, who missed last season, has a career mark of 59-17.  He had his best season in 2014-15 when he posted a career-best record of 33-12 and finished 20th at the NCAA Championships.

BW begins the 2016-17 campaign on Thursday, November 10 when it travels to Adrian, Michigan for a non-conference dual match against Adrian College inside the Merillat Sport and Fitness Center at 7 p.m.  The Yellow Jackets open OAC competition on Friday, January 13 when they travel to University Heights to square off against cross-town rival John Carroll University.