2009-10 College Preview - Eastern Michigan


Coach: Derek Delporto (4th season)
Last year: 7-11 (1-4 in MAC), 5th in MAC
Preseason rank: NR
Individuals ranked: None
Top Returners: Andrew Novak (MAC Runner-Up), Chris Jenkins,
JJ Johnson, Corey Phillips, David Wade
Key Losses: John McClure (NCAA Qualifier-197)
Impact Newcomers: Aaron Sulzer (Freshman-157), Alex Ortman
(Freshman-165)


Outlook:  There has been a lot of excitement about Derek Delporto
and the EMU wrestling squad since he arrived in Ypsilanti three
years ago.  Delporto has brought a new sense of life to the Eastern
Michigan progam, however, he is ready to turn the excitement and
enthusiam off the mat into success on the mat.

"We set goals at our first team meeting a month ago," said
Delporto,  "We want to go .750 winning percentage on our
schedule, which is going to be very challenging, and we want to
have 5 NCAA Qualifiers and 10 M.A.C top 3 finishers. We want 90% of the team to have a 3.0 GPA or higher, and we MUST have an All-American."

While the Eagles are still young overall, Delporto's recruits are starting to become the heart of the lineup.  He has been successfull in recruiting some of Michigan's top prospects the past couple seasons and this year could be the year that he starts to reap some rewards from those recruits.

A few redshirt sophomores, who were part of his first recruiting class three years ago, should be seasoned and ready to start contending in the MAC this year, led by Andrew Novak (133), Corey Phililps (141), and JJ Johnson (149), who have all seen significant time in the lineup.  Novak was a MAC runner-up two years ago as a true freshman at 125lbs, while Johnson is ranked 3rd in the conference after a strong freshman campaign last year.  Phillips, according to Delporto, could surprise some people this year.

"Right now I am really excited about Corey Phillips.  He didn't get to compete the 2nd half of the season due to mono, but he had a great off season and is doing really well."

Aside from Novak, Phillips, and Johnson, another member of the 2007
recruiting class to keep an eye on is Tommy St. Louis, who could be the
man at 184lbs, as well as three other wrestlers who were in Delporto's
2nd recruiting class: Aaron Sulzer (157), Alex Ortman (165), and Chris
Eggert (174). 

In all, expect to see Delporto's big recruits from the past three years start
to make an impact this year.

In addition to their promising youngsters, EMU also boasts a solid group
of expierenced veterans throughout their lineup, led by a few juniors and
seniors who have been mainstays in the lineup the past few years.  Chris
Jenkins (125), Nick Hendrick (174),  Josh Lewis (197), and David Wade
(285) all enter this year with a couple years of expierence in the Eagle
starting lineup and should be very competetive in the increasingly
competetive MAC conference.

"It's been a slow but steady process," said Delporto regarding his team's
progression over the past couple seasons, "Every year we are getting
better and every year we are getting more talented.  EMU was in a deep
hole compared to the other M.A.C. schools and I believe we are finally poking our heads out and ready to make some noise within a year or two.  As for this year, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of our guys turn the corner and start winning a lot of matches."

The key for EMU's national success will start with their ability to compete in their conference.  Last year they had only one National Qualifier in John McClure, who graduated, and they did not score any points at the NCAA tournament.  For them to move up the national ranks they will need to see a few guys place high in the MAC and qualify for the National Tournament.  As Delporto is well aware, being succesfull in the MAC conference is not an easy task.

"The M.A.C has slowly but surely become one of the toughest conferences in the country.  The parity that has evolved over the last several years, with the exception of some individual stand-outs, has made it a very nerve-racking conference.  I don't think anyone goes into a M.A.C dual absolutely sure they are going to win," said Delporto.

The Mid-American Conference released their Preseason Coaches Poll last month and Eastern Michigan was picked to finish 6th in the conference.  JJ Johnson was the only individual ranked in the top 4 of his respective weight class.  Delporto and the Eagle squad has different plans, but only time will tell if their plans become a reality.

The journey for EMU officially begins for EMU this Saturday when they do battle with Northern Iowa and St. Cloud in Evanston, Illinois.


Weight by weight breakdown:
125
Eagle Senior Chris Jenkins is back for his final go round in
Ypsilanti.  The Tecumseh senior has been a main-stay in the
EMU lineup throughout his career and this year he should provide
some stabilty and expierence at the top of their lineup.  Last year
he finished 3rd at 125lbs in the MAC tournament.  Jenkins' 09-10
season started off strong last weekend at the EMU Open as he
downed NCAA Qualifier Eric Olanowski of MSU 6-1 and finished
3rd, losing only to 11th ranked Eric Morill of Edinboro 3-2.   Junior
Jordan Maguire should be a formidable backup for Jenkins after
seeing a good amount of time last year posting a 6-14 record. 
Touted freshman Jared Germaine is expected to redshirt.


133
This should be one of EMU's strongest weights with senior
Sean Clair and sophomore Andrew Novak.  Clair has started consistently and been one of EMU's best wrestlers the past three years, popping in and out of the national rankings.  Novak had a breakout true freshman season two years ago, starting at 125lbs and finishing runner-up in the MAC.  These two will likely battle it out for the starting spot and whoever wins out should be a top contender in the MAC and one of EMU's best bets to score points at the NCAA tournament.  Novak is the likely candidate to start the year for EMU here after his 3rd place finish at the EMU Open, downing the same wrestler in the consolation semifinals that beat Clair the round prior.


141
Sophomore Corey Phillips appears to be the main man at 141 for EMU and the Eagle coaching staff is excited about what he may be capable of in his first full season.  Last year Phililps started the year as the EMU starter at 141, but missed the 2nd half of the season due to injury.  His 09-10 campaign started out strong as the former Division 1 state champ finished 5th at the EMU Open, knocking off MSU starter Collin Dozier in the finals.

149
This is another weight that should be held down by a sophomore as JJ Johnson comes back after starting the majority of the season at this weight last year.  The Rockford native is ranked 3rd in the Mid American Conference's preseason poll after leading the Eagles last year with a 19-10 record as their main man at 149lbs.

157
After taking a redshirt year last year, Ohio native Aaron Sulzer appears to be the leading candidate to start at 157 this year for Delporto.  The former Ohio state champ was 15-6 last year during his redshirt year. 

165
EMU boasts a good blend of expierence and youth at 165 as senior Justin Brandel and redshirt freshman Alex Ortman will both likely compete for time at this weight.  Brandel is returning at this weight as a senior with three varsity letters and brings a load of expierence while Ortman comes in as one of the Delporto's biggest recruits being a former 2x Michigan Division 1 State Champion.  Brandel was 5th at the EMU Open last weekend after advancing to the semifinals and will likely be the leading candidate to start the season.

174
This is another weight that could be a season-long battle for the starting spot with true sophomore Chris Eggert and redshirt junior Nick Hendrick.  Hendrick finished in the top 8 at the EMU Open and was 4th in the MAC last year while Eggert, a former Michigan High School State Champion, was 10-12 last year as a true freshman in the starting lineup.

184
Sophomore Tommy St. Louis, who was part of Delporto's blue-chip first year recruiting class, appears to be their favorite here.  He was 9-13 last year in his first season of varsity action.  Redshirt Freshman Travis Stanback of Ohio could contend for time in the lineup as well.  True freshman Nick Whitenburg of Bedford, who finished 2nd at the EMU Open in the freshman/sophomore division last weekend, will likely redshirt this year.

197
Senior Josh Lewis brings expierence to this weight class with three varsity letters under his belt.  This is likely the thinnest weight for EMU as they have little depth behind Lewis if something were to happen to him.

285
Senior David Wade is back for his final season with the Eagles and is one of the most accomplished and expierenced wrestlers in their lineup.  He was 17-11 last year, including a 3-2 record in the MAC and finished 3rd in the Conference Tournament last year.  He started this off nicely with a runner-up finish at the EMU Open.  Addison native Wes Schroeder, who finished 6th at the EMU Open, should provide good depth here.








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Rockford native JJ Johnson is ranked 3rd in the MAC Preseason Poll at 149lbs
Former Canton State Champ Corey Phillips
Jenkins