Nov. 6, 2009 –The Truman Wrestling team will begin their 2009-10 season on Saturday when they travel to Dubuque, Iowa and the Loras College Open.
Head Coach David Schutter, entering his 20th season with the program, has two main goals for the team.
“We would like to produce three All-Americans in the same season and continue to excel in the classroom as Academic National champions,” said Schutter.
Truman’s top returner is senior Loyde Braidlow (Rolla, Mo./Rolla) in the 285 pound weight class. Braidlow just missed the national tournament last season as he was defeated 6-5 in a four overtime match against Tim Clark of the University of Findlay at the NCAA Division II Super Regional.
Braidlow is the only Bulldog on the squad that has been to the national tournament. He went 0-2 at the 2007 Division II Championships and redshirted the following year.
Dean Schultz (Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock), Bryan Isbell (Brussels, Belgium/Brussels American) and Kaz Hastimoto (La Salle, Ill./La Salle) make up the other four seniors on Truman’s roster this season.
Outside of Braidlow, other returners Schutter feels Bulldog fans should watch closely are 141/149 pounder sophomore Alex Maus (Kennesaw, Ga./Kennesaw Mt.), 157 pounder junior Andy Bader (St. Louis, Mo./Vianney) and 174/184 pounder sophomore Chad Kurvoski (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny).
Coach Schutter has added six fresh faces to the Bulldog team and expects two to make an immediate impact. Ryan Banning (Wildwood, Mo./Eureka) will contend at 133 pounds while Colton Schmitz (Kirksville, Mo./Kirksville) will compete at 141.
Schmitz helped lead the Tigers to the Missouri Class 2 State Championship and was a four-time state qualifier. He won the 140 and 135 pound weight classes his senior and junior year while finishing second as sophomore and third as a freshman.
Other newcomers include Rolland Wimberley (Wrangell, Alaska/Wrangell), Jordan Powell (Mesa, Ariz./Dotson), Joe Shupe (St. Louis, Mo./CBC) and Derreck Straton (Des Moines, Iowa/Adel-DeSoto Minburn).
Truman will host just two home dual meets this season. The Bulldogs will entertain Hannibal-LaGrange College on Thursday, Dec. 10th at 7:00 p.m. in Pershing Arena and Newman University on Friday, Feb. 5th.
The Bulldogs will compete in four tournaments to start the season as the ‘Dogs will compete at Loras on Nov. 7th, Knox College Open on Nov. 14th, Nebraska-Omaha Open on Nov. 21st and the Simpson Invitational on Dec. 5th.
Truman will also compete at the Knox College Duals following the holiday break on Jan. 9th, the two-day Wheaton College Invitational at the end of January, the MIAA duals in Hays, Kan. on Feb. 14th and the NCAA Super Regional in Warrensburg on Feb. 27th.
Schutter’s wrestling program is currently the three-time NCAA Division II Coaches Association Academic National Champions and is tied with Colorado School of Mines with five overall academic titles.