Former MHS football star to play football at MC

Sports Talk: Ron Johnston

Perry Wheeler's football resume includes some memorable prep performances on the gridiron at Don Drumm Stadium.

It'll have to be updated for his collegiate career, because Marietta High's record-setting running back is planning to continue his education and play football at Marietta College - which also plays its home games at DDS - this upcoming season.

The 6-foot, 190-pound Wheeler is one of 41 incoming freshmen on the Pioneer roster. Locally, Monroe Central's Hogan Hamilton and Parkersburg South's Austin Freeland are also on the list.

As a senior, Wheeler set an MHS record when he became the first running back to rush for over 1,000 yards twice in his career. Last fall, he ran for 1,013 yards on 185 carries and 10 touchdowns, and in 2008, he gained 1,037 yards on 202 carries and 19 TDs.

Wheeler also set the school's single-game rushing yards mark when he ran for 320 yards on 33 carries and six touchdowns in Marietta High's 2009 season-opening 59-20 triumph over Morgan at Don Drumm Stadium.

An all-around football player, Wheeler was also a hard-hitting linebacker for the Tigers. Where he'll fit in the Pioneer football scheme of things remains to be seen.

At MC, Wheeler will be joining former Tiger teammates Cory Kriechbaum, a senior wide receiver and three-year letterwinner, and Sean Munfield, a sophomore wide receiver/punter.

Kriechbaum- 5-10, 180 - has led the Pioneers in receiving the past two season, making 33 receptions last season and 43 in 2008.

Career-wise, Kriechbaum has 84 catches for 803 yards and three touchdowns. In a game against Thiel College, he threw a 49-yard touchdown pass.

Munfield- 6-0, 170-appeared in four games as a freshman, and had 12 punts, averaging 34.7 yards a kick.

Other local players on the 2010 Pioneer roster are junior Chris James and senior Cody Hopkins of Parkersburg; sophomore Josh Work of Morgan; junior Dan Starr of Buckeye Trail; and senior Adam Tate of Federal Hocking.

Last season, Tate - a 6-1, 245-pound lineman - was a second-team All-OAC honoree.

The Jeff Filkovski-coached Pioneers were 3-7 overall and 2-7 in the Ohio Athletic Conference last season. Their three wins were against Thiel College, Wilmington College and Otterbein University.

Filkovski will be starting his third season at the Pioneer helm.

Marietta College is scheduled to kick off its season at Thiel in Greenville, Pa. at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 4. Last fall, the Pioneers defeated the Tomcats, 20-14, at Don Drumm Stadium.

MC's home opener is slated against Muskingum University at 6 p.m. Sept. 18. Last year, the Pioneers dropped a 15-12 decision to the Fighting Muskies of New Concord.

On Nov. 13 in the season finale, the Pioneers will be at Capital University, where former Tigers' Ryan Offenberger and Jared Ross are expected to be suited up as Crusader players.

Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor and can be reached at 376-5441 or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com

Originally Published in the Marietta Times on June 22, 2010