Wrestling ready to return to action

The Defiance wrestling team is set to begin the 2021-22 season with a road dual at the University of Indianapolis on November 2 at 6:00 p.m.

The Coach: The Yellow Jackets are led by Acting Head Coach Chandler Minnard. Minnard takes the reins after spending the 2020-21 season as an assistant coach under Antonio Guerra. Minnard was a three-time NCAA DII national qualifier, a two-time NWCA Academic All American, and a two-time team captain during his wrestling career at Ashland University. He also has served as an assistant coach at Ashland and with Burnett Trained Wrestling Club and Team Ohio Junior Olympic Wrestling.

The Captains: The Yellow Jackets are captained by seniors Alex Smith, Cortez Bradley, and Mason Morris along with junior Seth Majewski.

Smith has a career record of 27-25 with nine pins. Last season he posted a 3-1 record with a pair of pins and a major decision. Bradley has 35 career wins including 15 career pins. Last season Bradley went 4-2 with two pins. Morris has 19 career victories, eight of which were by pin, and won four matches last season. Majewski has seven wins in his career

The Wrestlers: Defiance has 13 wrestlers who saw action last season back for the 2021-22 campaign. Majewski projects to start for DC in the 133 weight class with also includes sophomore Brent Eicher, who wrestled in six matches last season. Smith and Bradley are expected to have strong seasons in the 141 and 149 weight classes respectively.

In the 157 weight class, the Yellow Jackets have junior Alejandro Castro, who has 11 career wins, and sophomore Shamique Bryant who recorded two pins last season. Keringten Martin is projected to compete in the 165 weight class. The junior has 11 wins in his career. Sophomore Deontae Davis will occupy the 174 weight class after a breakout freshman season last year in which he went 5-1 with a team-leading 15 takedowns. Morris will wrestle at 197 this season and look to provide stability to the upper-weight portion of the DC lineup. Junior Seth Bowman, sophomore Jonah Schlegel, and senior Rigo Villa will compete for the heavyweight slot for the Yellow Jackets.

The Schedule: The Yellow Jackets will host duals against Cornerstone University, Wilmington College, Mount St. Joseph, Manchester, and Penn St. Behrend. They will also face the University of Indianapolis, Adrian, Case Western Reserve, Albion, and Ohio Wesleyan on the road in addition to competing in various tournaments such as the Adrian College Invite, the Spartan Mat Classic, and the Pete Wilson Wheaton Invite.

Broadcast: All home meets will take place at the Karl H. Weaner Center and live video can be found on defianceathletics.com.