BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin Wallace University men's indoor track team is looking to build upon last year's strong fourth place showing at the Ohio Athletic Conference Championship Meet. This year's balanced squad is looking to make a strong run at the 2009 OAC title.
"We have some solid returning upperclassmen and a number of newcomers in events that will make us more balanced and will give us more depth," said Taraschke, who has led 45 Yellow Jacket cross country and track teams to OAC crowns. "We are optimistic that we will have a strong indoor season."
This year's squad has five seniors, 12 juniors, 11 sophomores and 12 freshmen.
In the distance events, seniors Derek Hill (Fremont/ Ross) and Nate Bowen (Fremont/ Ross) are the team leaders. Bowen placed fifth in the one-mile run at the '08 OAC meet (4:23.13) and fourth in the 800-meter run (2:00.11). Hill finished third in the 5000-meter run (15:31.60). Others returning to the distance group include juniors Mark Buhovecky (Brunswick/ Parma Padua Franciscan), James Eberts (North Canton/ Hoover),Gregory Ackley (Ashtabula/ Lakeside) and Brian Campbell (Berea), sophomore Brian Gibbons (Rocky River) and freshmen Drew Beck(Canadaigua, N.Y./ Canadaigua Academy), Mark Warman (Strongsville),Tom Wilkin (Powell/ Olentangy-Liberty) and Zach Szablewski (Tiffin/ Calvert).
The sprint group this year could be a key to an OAC title run. Senior Mike Kowal (Parma/ Senior), juniorsJayson Heberg (Sandusky/ Perkins) and Steve Price (North Olmsted) and sophomore Alex Evans (Newbury/ Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) all ran team-bests in sprinting events last season. Also, look for senior Alan Kidon (Chardon), Ackley, sophomores Kevin Stoll (Norwalk/ Collins Western Reserve) andDrew Matlak (Salem/ Senior) and freshmen Josh Miller (Willard), Dan Sloat (Medina/ Senior) and Stewart Pozzuto (Washington, Pa.) to help.
Price also will lead the Yellow Jacket jumpers, vaulters and hurdlers. Price earned three top-five finishes at the '08 OAC meet as he finished second in the high jump (6' 3.25"), fourth in the long jump (22' 5.75") and fourth in the triple jump (44' 0.5"). Others returning and looking to make their mark in the jumping events include junior Kareem Ibrahim (North Olmsted) and sophomores Drew Matak (Salem/ Senior), Tim Levitsky (Parma/ Senior) and Zach Poole (Mentor) as well as Miller. Poole also will be the most experienced returning hurdler and freshman Nate Wiles (North Olmsted) will be the top vaulter.
The Brown & Gold return a trio of throwers from a season ago. Junior Greg Patrick (Collins/ Western Reserve) was team-best last season in the shot put with a toss of 49'3".75. In the weight throw, sophomores Kevin Phipps (Reynoldsburg/ Watkins Memorial) and Matt Kromer (Parma/ Senior) finished third (44'9") and fourth (44'2.5"), respectively.
The indoor track and field season gets underway on Friday January 23 when BW hosts its annual BW Mid-January Meet at 5:30 p.m. on the Harrison Dillard Track in the Lou Higgins Center Fieldhouse. That will be the first of four home indoor meets that include the Feb. 6 BW Indoor Meet, the Feb. 13 Mid-February Meet and the Feb. 20 Greater Cleveland College Indoor Championships. For meet schedules and events, please visit the BW Indoor Track page on the BW Internet Web site at www.bw.edu/athletics/ itf/sched/.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact BW Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu.To contact Head Coach Bill Taraschke, please call 440-826-3322 or e-mail at wtarasch@bw.edu.
