Faced with replacing the North Coast Athletic Conference’s top 2 scorers in his lineup, Ohio Wesleyan head coach Mike DeWitt will turn to balance as the key to keeping the Battling Bishops in championship contention in the NCAC.[widgets_on_pages id=1]
“I think we’re more balanced and deeper (than last year), DeWitt said. “We will be a team that distributes scoring among more people instead of relying on one or two people to do most of the work offensively.”
Juniors Grant Gossard (Westerville/Olentangy Orange) and Derrick Wyche (Lewis Center/Olentangy) are the top returnees at the post positions. Gossard ranked fifth in the league in field goal percentage and seventh in blocked shots last year. Wyche has started 25 games over the last 2 seasons.
Junior Jake Hecker (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) also has started games up front, junior Tim Kiefer (North Olmsted/Cleveland St. Ignatius) is another returning letterman, and sophomore Jeffrey Hudson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Berkeley Carroll) also returns.
“(The post players) will be our leaders early,” DeWitt said. “They’re experienced and have played in big games the last 2 seasons.”
Sophomore Grant Smith (Columbus/Bishop Hartley), a transfer from Purdue-Northwest, and freshman Nick Carlson (Dublin/Coffman) also will be vying for playing time. Carlson was a first-team all-conference selection in high school, while Smith did not see action last season after earning all-district recognition in high school.
Sophomore Dawsin Tillman (Bellefontaine), who improved as last season progressed, looks to take over one wing spot. Sophomore Nick Fontanella (Littleton, Mass.) also returns.
Freshmen Ethan Stanislawski (Massillon/Jackson) and Gabe Johnson (Chicago, Ill./Wheaton St. Francis) are in the hunt for the other wing position. Stanislawski helped his high school team win a state championship and ranked among the school’s all-time leaders in 3-point field goal percentage.
Freshman Collin Kimbrough (Westerville/Worthington Christian) and freshman Lucas Nathanson (Newton, Mass./South) also look to make an impact. Kimbrough was an honorable mention all-district pick in high school, while Nathanson won league all-star honors in high school.
“We’re talented, but very inexperienced on the perimeter,” DeWitt said.
Junior Jaret Gerber (Worthington/Thomas Worthington) takes over at point guard. Gerber averaged nearly 1.5 assists per game and emerged as one of the team’s most reliable 3-point shooters last year.
Junior Tristin Tillman (Bellefontaine), a transfer from Marietta, and freshman Curtis White (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) also should see time at the point and possibly a wing position. White was an honorable mention underclass all-state pick and was named conference Most Valuable Player in high school.
The Battling Bishops are currently 2-1, with wins against Springfield and Otterbein and a loss to Chicago.
