Wrestling News Releases
Cornell returns two all-Americans in Nothern, Donahue
MOUNT VERNON - Cornell College wrestling has returned to national prominence in head coach Mike Duroe's four seasons on the Hilltop.
The Rams are coming off their second consecutive top-10 national team finish, a feat that hasn't happened at Cornell since the 1950 and 1951 seasons. Cornell placed eighth while crowning three all-Americans at the 2009 NCAA Division III Championships, followed by a seventh-place showing in 2008.
Cornell carries similar expectations into the 2009-10 campaign, which starts Saturday at the Loras Open in Dubuque. The Rams open the home portion of their schedule Nov. 11 in a 7 p.m. dual meet with North Central.
The Rams are ranked ninth in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III Preseason Poll, although Duroe doesn't place much value in such early projections.
"I think we can be a very competitive team later in the season when our guys develop and gain experience," said Duroe, who owns a 51-37 dual mark with 10 all-Americans since 2006. "We still have a long ways to go in developing our mental toughness. We don't have a lot of proven winners at this level. We'll need to work hard in the technical areas. We have a lot of question marks."
Cornell brings back 14 letterwinners and six starters from last year's 14-8 squad, which scored a school-best 123 points in placing fourth at the Iowa Conference Championships.
Senior Nick Nothern (Salina, Kan./Salina South) and junior Kevin Donahue (Mechanicsville, Va./St. Christopher's) headline this year's team as returning all-Americans. Nothern was a national runner-up at 133 pounds last year, becoming the program's first national finalist since 1996. He placed sixth at the 2008 national meet and was a qualifier in 2007. Nothern is 13th on the school's career wins list with a 94-36 record. He finished 29-11 in each of the last two seasons.
Donahue earned all-America status with a seventh-place finish in his first national tournament appearance last March. He was voted the team's Most Improved and Most Dedicated Wrestler after going 28-11 last year. Donahue placed third at conference.
"Nothern and Donahue are our two team captains," Duroe said. "They have provided real strong leadership."
Nothern is ranked No. 1 at 133 in the NWCA Preseason Poll and tabbed No. 3 in the D3wrestle.com individual ratings. Donahue stands No. 3 at 141 in both rankings.
Junior Ryan Mulnix (Coggon/North-Linn) is the third Ram recognized in the preseason national polls. He is ninth at 149 by D3wrestle.com and 10th in the NWCA Poll. Mulnix earned his first trip to nationals last year after taking third at the IIAC Championships. He was third on the team in wins with a 30-14 record.
Sophomores Timothy Hood (21-17 last year at 125) and Andrew Roberts (24-18 at 184, 197) and junior Robert Widmer (17-20 at 197, 285) were all regulars in the varsity lineup a year ago. All three finished fifth at the conference tournament. Roberts recorded 13 pins, most among returning Rams. Widmer is a two-year starter.
Cornell's other returning letterwinners include junior Micky Spiwak (16-8 at 125), sophomore Tigue Snider (22-14 at 133), sophomore Michael Buhr (17-13 at 141), sophomore Jacob Schwebke (20-15 at 149), sophomore Zach Wilson (19-16 at 149), senior Alex Riniker (10-13 at 157, 165), sophomore Joe Hambleton (27-11 at 165) and junior Isaac Hull (3-17 at 285).
Hambleton was named the team's Freshman of the Year in 2008-09, leading all newcomers in wins. Riniker is a three-year letterwinner. Spiwak went 19-13 as a freshman before seeing last season cut short due to injury.
The Rams graduated four starters, including two-time all-American and 2009 IIAC champion Kyle Kehrli at 174. Kehrli set the school's single-season record with 46 victories last year and ranks seventh in career wins with 114. He placed fifth at nationals in 2009 and sixth in 2008.
Cornell welcomes 12 newcomers - including six 100-match winners in high school - to its 36-man roster. Freshmen Mark Myers (174) and Gary d'Aquin (197) are listed among the nation's top newcomers by D3wrestle.com. Myers is a two-time Indiana state placewinner with a 136-20 career record. D'Aquin is a two-time Louisiana state runner-up with 104 career pins. He posted an 82-9 record over his final two seasons.
Freshmen Alex Hughes (133) and Colten Moore (149) are also multiple state placewinners in high school. Hughes is a three-time Missouri state placewinner and 2009 state runner-up with 117 career wins. Moore is a two-time Iowa state placewinner with a 160-18 career mark.
The Rams also added a well-known figure to the coaching staff in assistant Shawn Voigt, the school's only four-time all-American. He is Cornell's last national champion (1990) and all-time leader in wins (148).
Duroe said development will be the key to his team's success in February and March.
"Every year, our goal is to develop guys faster than our competition," Duroe said. "I think our assistant coaches are very skilled at developing guys and getting them better quickly. I'm real optimistic about the season. I'm anxious to get started."
Cornell is among six IIAC schools ranked in the NWCA Top 30 Poll. Coe is rated No. 4, followed by defending national champion Wartburg at No. 6, Cornell No. 9, Dubuque No. 15, Luther No. 20 and Loras No. 25.
