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Eric Schmuhl Joins Yellow Jacket Coaching Staff

The following piece of information was copied word-for-word from OAC Distance contributor Tim Budic's personal blog:

BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin-Wallace College Head Track and Cross Country Coach Bill Taraschke has hired Eric Schmuhl, a 2005 graduate of the college and former track & field student-athlete, as assistant coach for the men’s and women’s track & field program. Schmuhl joins a Yellow Jacket track program that is one of the best in Ohio.

“We are pleased that Eric Schmuhl is joining our staff at Baldwin-Wallace College and know that he will be a great asset to our track program and student-athletes,” said Taraschke, who will enter his 25th season as head coach. “Eric was an outstanding competitor in college and is quickly becoming an excellent teacher and coach.”

Schmuhl, who earned an undergraduate degree in education at B-W and will earn a Master’s of Education degree this summer from Muskingum College, returns to the College after spending the past year as a graduate assistant coach for track and cross country at Muskingum. In addition to his coaching duties, he assisted in recruiting and strength and conditioning.

Prior to coaching at the collegiate level, Schmuhl was an assistant coach for track and cross country at his high school alma mater, Medina Senior High School in Medina, Ohio for four years. He first served as a volunteeer coach for three seasons and then was hired fulltime for the 2006-2007 academic year. While at Medina Senior, Schmuhl coached several Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division I State qualifiers and All-Ohio athletes in track and cross country. Schmuhl also has served as an organizational trustee and clinic instructor for the Greater Medina Track Club since 2006.

Schmuhl, a 2001 graduate of Medina Senior High School, was a 2001 OHSAA State qualifier in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles and a two-year team captain in track.

At B-W, Schmuhl ran four years of indoor and outdoor track under Taraschke. He was an NCAA Division III National qualifier for outdoor track in 2004 and 2005 and the 2004 OAC champion in 400-meter intermediate hurdles. He was also a seven-time All-OAC honoree, a 2005 honorable mention Academic All-OAC selection and a three-time Vance Carter Award Winner as the Most Outstanding Male Hurdler.

BW 2008 XC Preview

"I would say our goals for the team are pretty standard - to stay healthy, get in some good training, and see where that will take us come October and November." - Jimmy Eberts

The Baldwin-Wallace cross country team, lead by seniors (and high school teammates) Derek Hill and Nate Bowen, are expecting a solid year of rising expectations. Last year's team finished 5th at the OAC Conference meet and 16th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, and will be returning 4 of their top 5 scorers from last year's conference team.

After a breakout spring on the track - the BW men are showing some promise in competing both within the conference and at the regional level. As mentioned, the team will be lead by Derek Hill, who won the outdoor 5k at OACs and Nate Bowen, who ended the track with a sub 4:00 performance in the 1500m - both of whom will be shooting for All-OAC honors this coming November 1st in Marietta, Ohio.

Solidifying the depth for the Yellowjackets will be Jimmy Eberts - who is coming off a solid track season of steeplechasing (3rd @ OACs), Brian Gibbons - who is looking for a healthy return after an up & down freshman track campaign, Mark Buhoveckey - who placed 8th at OACs in the 10k, and Jeff Bonezzi - who was the always-consistent 5th man for much of last year. Others looking to contribute are juniors Brian Campbell and Greg Ackley... and sophomores Justin Brown and Nathaniel Nemire.

As for the newcomers... the freshman class of Drew Beck of Canandaigua Academy in NY (4:24, 9:55), Tom Wilkin of Olentangy Liberty (4:28, 16:32), Zach Szablewski of Tiffin Calvert (10:00, 16:37), Matt Sutter of Twinsburg (4:38, 17:09) and Mike Sisko of Olmsted Falls all look to step into the BW program and contribute what they can to the success of this season, as they adjust to the new demands and environment of college life, training and racing.

The BW squad opens their 2008 XC season on August 30th at the Case Western Reserve Invitational at Squire Farms in Hunting Valley, Ohio.

* Timothy