2009-10 Wrestling Outlook

Thunder wrestling made huge strides in 2008-09, and this season holds even more expectations for the five-year old program. The Thunder upset nationally-ranked Olivet early last season and jumped into national polls for the first time ever. The Thunder also finished second in the Midwest Regional and 11-5 in dual meets.

Four 25-match winners are back, and a solid set of freshmen will join the team. After finishing second in the regional, behind nationally ranked Delaware Valley and tied with Olivet, the team is poised for another successful season. The team has good upper class representation, promising young wrestlers and lots of potential with a solid recruiting class that should challenge for starting spots right away.

Eight returners competed at the regional. Senior Nick Kraus (Rolling Prairie, Ind. /New Prairie) at 184, finished 29-5 last season, including a third-place finish at the regional. He is 83-30 overall at Trine. Junior Alex Fleet (Lowell, Ind./Lowell), at 197, was also third and 30-9 on the season. Sophomore Kyle Long (South Bend, Ind./Washington) at 157 was 28-15 and just missed the national tournament, finishing second at the regional. Sophomore Brandon Harvey (Elkhart, Ind./Memorial) in the 125 class, was 27-15 in 2008-09 and fifth at the regional.

Senior Thomas Pompei (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) at 141 went 12-2 in 2009 and is 69-26 overall in his Thunder career, including a second-place finish in the 2008 Midwest Regional. Sophomore George Markou (Peru, Ind./Peru) was 19-15 last year.

Coach Dan Callahan is excited by the new wrestlers. “Our incoming class has 14 state placers or qualifiers from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, and gives us very good depth at most weight classes,” he said.

Elias Larsen (Orland Park, Ill./Marion Catholic), at 149, won the Illinois title in 2009. In the 133 weight class, Will Sheets (Decatur, Indiana/Bellmont) was fourth in the Indiana meet. Trace Hall (South Bend, Ind./Riley) wrestles 141 and has placed three times at the Indiana state meet.

At 197 is Robert Blake (Tinora, Ohio/Tinora) and Ben Wines (Pittsford, Mich./Pittsford). Wines was third in Michigan Division IV and Blake was eighth overall at the Ohio State championship. Sophomore Dylan Forbes (Wolcottville, Ind./Prairie Heights) a transfer from Defiance, adds depth at heavyweight. Forbes was Indiana state qualifier in 2008

The season opens up Nov. 7 at the Lakeland College Duals in Sheboygan, Wis. Trine hosts the Little State Tournament Dec. 4 and 5 at Hershey Hall. The 13-team event features NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA programs from Indiana.

“We have a very tough schedule, including the prestigious Dick Walker Invitational and the Budd Whitehills Duals later. This schedule should prepare us for the NCAA tournament,” Callahan said.