Posted: Dec 06, 2014
GRANTHAM, Pa – The Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team finished fourth at the annual and prestigious Messiah (Pa.) College Petrofes Invitational Tournament.
The Yellow Jackets scored 133 team points to place fourth of 13 total teams. No.1-ranked Wisconsin Whitewater won the team title, Wilkes (Pa.) University was second and No.3-ranked Messiah was third.
Leading the way was junior 165-pounder David Shapiro (Beachwood) who placed first with a 5-0 record. Shapiro, ranked fifth in the most recent Division III individual rankings, won his opening match, 8-1, over Jason Gebara of Bridgewater State (Mass.) He won his second, third and fourth matches by close decisions. In the championship match, Shapiro defeated Colin Navickas of Stevens Institute (N.J.), 14-10.
In addition, junior Division III All-American 125-pounder Jesse Gunter (Akron/ Coventry) and junior 174-pounder Garret Chase (Erie, Pa./ Akron Coventry) finished second in their respective weight classes. Gunter, who is ranked third individually in Division III, had a 3-1 mark with his only loss coming to No.2-ranked Lucas Malmberg of host Messiah. Chase had a 4-1 mark.
Also, sophomore 197-pounder Andrew Shackleford (Worthington/ Thomas Worthington) placed fourth with a 3-2 record, freshman 197-pounder Tyler Maclellan (Medina/ Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) placed fifth with a 4-2 record, sophomore 141-pounder Josh Decatur (Akron/ Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) finished fifth with a 5-2 record, junior 149-pounder Joey Schmidt (Hinckley/ Brunswick) and junior 184-pounder Ben LeBrun (Strongsville) each placed sixth with a 4-3 mark, freshman 285-pounder Andrew Sierwaski (Deleware/ Hayes) finished sixth with a 5-3 record, and freshman 133-pounder Markus Cruz (Lorain/ Clearview) placed eighth with a 3-3 record.
The BW wrestlers are back in action next Saturday, December 13 when they travel to Great Neck, New York to participate in the United States Merchant Marine Academy Duals. BW's first match is at 11 a.m.
The Yellow Jackets scored 133 team points to place fourth of 13 total teams. No.1-ranked Wisconsin Whitewater won the team title, Wilkes (Pa.) University was second and No.3-ranked Messiah was third.
Leading the way was junior 165-pounder David Shapiro (Beachwood) who placed first with a 5-0 record. Shapiro, ranked fifth in the most recent Division III individual rankings, won his opening match, 8-1, over Jason Gebara of Bridgewater State (Mass.) He won his second, third and fourth matches by close decisions. In the championship match, Shapiro defeated Colin Navickas of Stevens Institute (N.J.), 14-10.
In addition, junior Division III All-American 125-pounder Jesse Gunter (Akron/ Coventry) and junior 174-pounder Garret Chase (Erie, Pa./ Akron Coventry) finished second in their respective weight classes. Gunter, who is ranked third individually in Division III, had a 3-1 mark with his only loss coming to No.2-ranked Lucas Malmberg of host Messiah. Chase had a 4-1 mark.
Also, sophomore 197-pounder Andrew Shackleford (Worthington/ Thomas Worthington) placed fourth with a 3-2 record, freshman 197-pounder Tyler Maclellan (Medina/ Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) placed fifth with a 4-2 record, sophomore 141-pounder Josh Decatur (Akron/ Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) finished fifth with a 5-2 record, junior 149-pounder Joey Schmidt (Hinckley/ Brunswick) and junior 184-pounder Ben LeBrun (Strongsville) each placed sixth with a 4-3 mark, freshman 285-pounder Andrew Sierwaski (Deleware/ Hayes) finished sixth with a 5-3 record, and freshman 133-pounder Markus Cruz (Lorain/ Clearview) placed eighth with a 3-3 record.
The BW wrestlers are back in action next Saturday, December 13 when they travel to Great Neck, New York to participate in the United States Merchant Marine Academy Duals. BW's first match is at 11 a.m.
