ASHLAND, OHIO – Three Baldwin Wallace University student-athletes placed in their respective weight classes as the Yellow Jacket wrestling team competed today (Saturday, November 17, 2012) at the prestigious 18th Annual Harris Open Tournament, hosted by NCAA Division II Ashland University.  The event featured numerous NCAA Division I and II schools and was unscored.

BW was led by freshman 133-pounder Zach Walker (Fairlawn/Copley) who compiled a 4-1 mark and placed second.  Walker defeated Josh Whitt of The Ohio State University, 4-3, Vinny Punzone of Notre Dame (Ohio) College, 7-3, Corey Bush of the University of Pittsburgh (Pa.), 10-6, and Wade Thiel of the University of Indianapolis (Ind.), 9-4, before losing in the championship match to Michael Labry of host Ashland.  Walker is now 8-5 overall.

Freshman 184-pounder Lane Louive (Massillon/Washington) also had a 4-1 mark and placed third. After losing his opening match, he beat Michael Johnson of Campbellsville (Ky.) University, 9-5, won by injury default and then by-forfeit and then defeated Eric Ford of Michigan State University, 5-4.  Louvie is now 14-3 overall.

Freshman 157-pounder Garret Chase (Erie, Pa. /Cathedral Prep) had a 5-2 mark and placed fourth.  After losing to Eastern Michigan University's James Klosz, 5-3, he defeated Joe Whalen of Campbellsville, 4-1, Michael Hummer of Ashland, 6-2, pinned Jameson Kordik of Ashland in 2:44, beat Jordan Cowell of the University of Findlay, 4-2, and won by injury default. Chase then lost in the third/ fourth place match and is now 15-4 overall.  His 15 victories lead the team.

In addition to the trio of placewinners, freshman 165-pounder David Shapiro (Beachwood), freshman 174-pounder Ben LeBrun (Strongsville) and freshman 285-pounder Joe Belford (Berea/St. Edward) each had a 2-2 record.  To date, Shapiro is 7-5 overall, LeBrun is 4-6 and Belford has a 7-6 mark.

The BW wrestlers are idle next week and are back in action on Saturday, December 1 when they travel to Rochester, New York to compete in the annual Rochester Institute of Technology Tournament at 10:00 a.m.

FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and e-mail at jefmille@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bwyellowjackets.com and we invite you to join us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.