2007-08 Raider Wrestling Preview

In 2007-08, Mount Union's wrestling team is expected to return several key contributors from last year's squad (6-10, 2-4 OAC in 2006-07) that placed fifth overall in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

In 2007-08, Mount Union's wrestling team is expected to return several key contributors from last year's squad (6-10, 2-4 OAC in 2006-07) that placed fifth overall in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

The Purple Raiders, under first-year Head Coach Mark Hawald, are expected to return senior/174 pounder Nicholas Allerding (Loudonville), who tied for the team-lead in wins last winter (24-13 overall) while placing second at the conference championships a year ago. In 2005-06, he also finished second at OACs. He has 62 career wins heading into his senior season at Mount Union.

'Nick (Allerding) had a very good year in 2006-07,' noted Hawald. 'He was competitive with some of the best wrestlers in the country in his weight class. There is no reason why he can't run it up a notch and have an even better senior year. We are looking for him to make a run at a national title this season."

The Raiders will also feature a pair of third place OAC finishers from a year ago ' senior/197 pounder Adam Lange (Hudson) and sophomore/133 pounder Eddie Petrosky (Natrona Hts., PA/Highlands), who had 13 and 12 wins respectively in 2006-07.

'Adam (Lange) will likely be moving up a weight division this season,' added Hawald. 'He has worked extremely hard this off-season on improving his overall athleticism. The time he has put in should make him quicker, stronger and faster. That should help him finish matches off even better. Eddie (Petrosky) was up and down some last year. He performed very well at the conference championship - when it counted most. That should give him more confidence heading into the season in terms of being even better overall.'

Sophomore/149 pounder Sean Dreger (Alliance), who was one of three Raiders who had 20 wins or more last winter (21-9 in 2006-07), returns after finishing fourth at the conference championship in 2007 at 141 pounds.

'Sean (Dreger) is a very mature young man,' said Hawald. 'He has spent time in the Army and is older than the other wrestlers in our program. He is not only a talented wrestler, but also a good role model for the young student/athletes in our program.'

The Purple Raiders are expecting to have as many as 30 wrestlers in the program in 2007-08.

'We like our numbers and have some quality wrestlers back in the program and have added a number of newcomers who should compete for mat time right away,' noted Hawald. 'The OAC is getting more and more competitive. Therefore, it is important our wrestlers understand the effort that will be needed for us to compete with the top teams in the league.'

Overall, Hawald is looking forward to the upcoming season, his first at the helm of the Raider program.

'I am excited about the 2007-08 season,' he stated. We want the wrestlers in our program to be hungry and open-minded to the approach we will take. Everyone starts with a clean slate and the guys who work the hardest will get the most mat time.'

The Raiders are hoping to move up the conference standings this winter.

'We want to compete for the OAC Championship,' noted Hawald. 'That has to be the goal of every team. We are confident we will be one of the teams in the hunt sooner rather than later.'

Mount Union's schedule in 2007-08 includes road competition at the Comet Duals hosted by Olivet (MI), at the Ashland Quad Meet and at the Wheaton (IL) Invitational. In conference, the Purple & White will travel to Baldwin-Wallace (Jan. 15), Wilmington (Jan. 22) and John Carroll (Feb. 12) while hosting Heidelberg (Nov. 27), Ohio Northern (Jan. 29) and Muskingum (Feb. 5). The OAC Tournament will be at John Carroll on Feb. 23.

'We like the way our non-conference schedule sets up,' said the coach. 'We want to see how we stack up against some of the better programs in the region and throughout Division III. You want your wrestlers to peak at the conference and national championships. This schedule, and the way we will prepare and train, will hopefully put us in the position of doing well inside and outside conference.'

Traditionally, Mount Union's wrestling program has been nationally prominently, producing 39 All-Americans and 10 OAC Championships while compiling a 375-209-7 dual match record (.638).

"We are extremely proud of the rich wrestling tradition that has been established at Mount Union," said Hawald. "My job is to build a program, with quality student-athletes, who can add to that legacy.