Baldwin Wallace University Grapplers Look to Make Presence Felt at 2010 OAC Tournament

Posted: Feb 17, 2010

BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team will look to make its presence felt at the 2010 Ohio Athletic Conference Championship Tournament on Saturday, February 20 at Mount Union College in the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex in Alliance.

Action begins at the MAAC at 10:00 a.m. with the winner of each weight class plus one "wild card" wrestler advancing to the 2010 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on March 5-6.

A year ago, current BW junior 174-pounder Andrew Scavuzzo (Cuyahoga Falls/ Woodridge) won an OAC title at 174 pounds and advanced to his first national tourney. This year, Scavuzzo, junior 133-pounder Phil Payne (Orange Village/ Orange), junior 157-pounder Korey Leonhard (Kinsman/ Pymatuning Valley), junior 197-pounder Tristan Stoll (Milan/ Edison) and sophomore heavyweight Ryan Jones (Uniontown/ Lake) have the best shots at earning an OAC crown and a spot at the national meet.

Joining the quintet at the OAC Tournament will be junior 125-pounder Tyler Erwin (Westerville/ Watkins Memorial), senior 141-pounder Eric Schubert (Oberlin), sophomore 149-pounder Grant Steward (Columbus/ Worthington Kilbourne), sophomore 165-pounder Mike Hosta (Hinckley/ Medina Highland) and senior 184-pounder Cody Quick (Mount Vernon).

Scavuzzo enters the OAC tourney at 15-4 overall, including 14-4 at 174 pounds, and is 38-13 during the past two seasons. Payne is having his finest season as a collegian and is 15-8 overall with five pins and a 4-2 mark in OAC dual matches. Leonhard, who competed at 174 and 184 pounds last season and was 7-15 overall, dropped down to 157 pounds and fashioned a solid, 15-10 slate, including a 14-10 mark at 157. He also was 2-3 in OAC matches at 157. Stoll, a two-time OAC Wrestler of the Week in his first season, has an outstanding 17-3 record with 10 pins and was 4-1 versus OAC competition. His only conference loss was to the 197-pound defending champ. Jones was 17-9 overall and 3-3 versus the OAC while also competing in his first season.

At 141 pounds, Schubert takes his last chance at the dream of an OAC title and national tourney berth. He enters the event at 9-13 overall and was 3-3 in OAC matches. Erwin, who took over the 125-pound class for injured sophomore Jeremy Dombrady (Copley), enters the tourney at 6-8 overall, including a 1-4 mark versus the OAC. Steward, who also is having his best season to date, is 6-10 overall but was winless in six OAC matches. Hosta, who has been injured, returns with a 1-9 slate at 165 pounds and an 0-5 mark against OAC opponents. Quick also is competing in his final season and takes a 5-16 overall mark, including a 1-5 OAC record, into the tourney.

"I think we have a good opportunity to compete well at this year's OAC Tournament," said 22-year veteran Head Coach Rich Fleming. "We are peaking right now and are looking for some good performances to occur. In our last two competitions, we upset our cross-town rival (John Carroll University) and did very well at our annual John Summa Tournament. I think we are up and ready for the challenge. There should be some great wrestling."

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.