BEREA, Ohio -- The Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team opened its 2013-2014 season by hosting the six-team BW Open Tournament in the Lou Higgins Center Fieldhouse. The tournament included NCAA Division II schools Ashland University, Tiffin University and Wheeling Jesuit (W.Va.) University, NAIA Indiana Tech, the and fellow NCAA Division III member College of Mount St. Joseph.
Leading the way for BW were sophomores 125-pounder Jesse Gunter (Akron/Coventry) and 157-pounder Garrett Chase (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) who each won their individual weight class.
Gunter had a 2-0 record as he won his first match with a 6-2 decision against Justin Agee of Indiana Tech and then beat Joshua Henderson of Wheeling Jesuit by major decision, 13-4, in the championship match.
Chase had a 3-0 slate as he pinned Mason Calvert of Ashland in 4:03, beat Kyle Burns of Ashland, 7-3, in the semifinals and then defeated Nick Mason of Ashland University in the title match by a score of 4-2.
Placing second were freshman 184-pounder Andrew Shackelford (Worthington/ Thomas Worthington) and sophomore 197-pounder Lane Louive (Massillon/ Washington). Shackelford had a 2-1 mark but was beaten by Tanner Martin of Indiana Tech by major decision, 15-5, in the championship match. Louive had a 3-1 mark but was pinned in his championship match by Ashland's Joseph Brandt at 2:14.
Finishing third were sophomores 165-pounder David Shapiro (Beachwood) and 174-pounder Ben LeBrun (Strongsville). Shapiro was 5-1 and defeated Jake Piatt of Ashland University in third place match by decision of 11-8. LeBrun was 3-1 and won his third place match by injury default against Allen Steele of Indiana Tech University.
Rounding out the top finishers for the Yellow Jackets sophomore 149-pounder Joe Schmidt (Hinkley/Brunswick) who placed fourth with a 3-2 record.
The Yellow Jackets travel to Washington, Pennsylvania next Saturday, November 9 to compete in the Washington & Jefferson College Tournament. The next home event is on Saturday, Nov. 23 when BW hosts both Manchester (Ind.) and cross-town rival Case Western Reserve University in the Fieldhouse. Manchester and Case wrestle at 12:00 noon, BW faces Manchester at 2:00 p.m. and then faces Case at 4:00 p.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 email at jefmille@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bwyellowjackets.comand we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter athttp://twitter.com/bwathletics.
