Ohio Wesleyan University | Battling Bishop Athletics

2009 Season Preview

In preparing for the 2009 season, Ohio Wesleyan head coach Sean Ryan faces a rebuilding task unlike any other in his 10 seasons at the Bishop helm.

Ryan must replace his 2008 team leader in assists, 4 of his top 6 midfielders, 2 of the defensemen who opened the 2008 season as starters, and a 3-year starter in goal.

But with 23 lettermen, including 6 starters, returning from last year’s team, Ryan hopes to reclaim the North Coast Athletic Conference championship as well as return to the NCAA Division III playoffs, doing so while running a gauntlet of a schedule that includes 5 playoff teams from 2008 and a total of 11 teams which are direct competitors for a potential playoff spot.

[ Nick Gallagher ] The attack line will be Ohio Wesleyan’s strength in 2009.

Senior Nick Gallagher (Columbus/Dublin Scioto) led the Bishops with 42 goals and ranked third in the NCAC in scoring on the way to first-team all-conference honors in 2008.

Junior Rob Young (Langhorne, Pa./Council Rock South) flourished after moving from the midfield to an attack spot last season, scoring 34 goals and ranking seventh in the conference in goals on the way to second-team all-league status.

Junior Dave Castignola (Dublin/Scioto), who was a first-team All-NCAC selection after scoring a team-high 38 goals in 2007, is back after missing the 2008 season.

Junior Gavin Cunningham (Rye, N.Y.) also returns, and senior Karl Zimmerman (Utica, Mich./Brother Rice) moves back to attack after spending the 2008 season in the midfield.

“This is our deepest position,” Ryan said. “We have four guys who have started 70 percent of the games they’ve played.”

[ Craig Aronoff ] Ryan must replace his top midfield line, with 3-time All-America selection Chris Eccles among those lost to graduation, and while the Bishops return several talented players, finding the best combinations will be paramount.

“The midfield will be our question mark,” Ryan said. “We’ll go by committee until we finalize who will work well with whom.”

Junior Craig Aronoff (Potomac, Md./The Bullis School) was a second-team All-NCAC pick last season, and junior Chris Ehlinger (Radnor, Pa.) is the top returning scorer in the midfield.

Senior Connor McGowan (Worthington/Thomas Worthington) will be among those looking to fill out the Bishops’ top midfield line, along with junior Chaz Narwicz (Yardley, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep), junior Andy Princehorn (Worthington/Thomas Worthington), and junior Sam Striler (St. Louis, Mo./Country Day).

Senior Nate Mauro (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township), who missed the 2008 season, junior Ricky Scheetz (Dublin/Jerome), junior Robb Shrader (Worthington/Thomas Worthington), and freshman Dave Walter (Glen Ridge, N.J./Glen Ridge) also are vying for playing time in the midfield.

Scheetz, who won nearly 60 percent of his face-offs last season, will take on an increased share of face-offs this year, along with senior Kyle Adams (North Canton/Hoover), a newcomer to the Bishop men’s lacrosse team.

Senior Dylan Brown (Merion, Pa./Episcopal Academy) and senior Kevin McMahon (Wilton, Conn.) return as the short-stick defensive midfielders, while junior Alex Razzolini (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois), sophomore Ian Kingsbery (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Radnor) and freshman Nathan Barnett (Columbus/Upper Arlington) will see action as long-stick defensive midfielders.

[ Matt Frizzo ] The Bishop close defense returns 2 starters.

“We’re excited about our overall athletic ability at close defense, but these positions also will be by committee until we figure out who works best together,” Ryan said.

Senior Matt Frizzo (Birmingham, Mich./Brother Rice) was an honorable mention All-NCAC selection for the second straight season. Sophomore Alex Haggerty (Granite Bay, Calif.) emerged last season, starting 11 games after injuries hit the Bishop defense.

Junior Lee Catt (Columbus/Upper Arlington) and sophomores Scott Chester (Medina) and Tony D’Abarno (Venetta, Pa./Peters Township) also return.

In goal, sophomore Jud Hall (Columbus/Upper Arlington) earned more playing time as last season progressed, seeing significant action in the crease for Ohio Wesleyan’s 2 NCAA Division III playoff games. Sophomore Frankie Weschler (Wilmette, Ill./Loyola Academy) will serve as Hall’s understudy.

Ryan and the Bishops will play a demanding schedule. The Bishops start out by hosting Hendrix and Fontbonne. Lynchburg, a 2008 playoff team, provides a lead-in to Ohio Wesleyan’s annual spring trip, during which the Bishops visit 2-time defending national champion Salisbury and 2008 NCAA Division III semifinalist Gettysburg. Regional games against Mount St. Joseph and Adrian follow.

The NCAC title chase begins against Oberlin before the annual skirmish with traditional arch-rival Denison. Regional games against St. Vincent and Colorado College lead the Bishops into the home stretch of the conference schedule, which includes games against 2008 NCAA Division III playoff team Kenyon, Wooster, and Wittenberg.

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