GREENVILLE, Pennsylvania -- The 18th-ranked Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team had a 2-1 record at the 2016 Thiel College Mel Berry Duals inside Beegly Gymnasium. The Yellow Jackets lost to No.9-ranked Ithaca (N.Y.) College, 22-9, beat Mercyhurst (Pa.) Northeast, 36-6, and defeated host Thiel (Pa.), 39-7.
BW (14-8, 1-0 OAC) was led by senior two-time Division III All-American 133-pounder Jesse Gunter (Akron/ Coventry), senior 4-year starter and 149-pounder Joe Schmidt (Hinckley/ Brunswick) and senior All-American 174-pounder Garrett Chase (Erie, Pa./ Cathedral Prep).
In its first match versus No.9-ranked Ithaca, Gunter, Schmidt and Chase all won by decision. Gunter won, 4-3, Schmidt won, 9-3, and Chase won, 6-5.
Against Mercyhurst NE, senior Ben LeBrun (Strongsville), a four-year starter, highlighted the match with a pin in 1:47 and senior 285-pounder Joe Belford (Berea/ St. Edward), also a four-year starter, gained a technical fall by a 17-2 count. In addition, sophomore 165-pounder Jimmy Sandlin (Carlisle) gained an 18-6 major decision, junior 141-pounder Zack Taylor (Brunswick), junior 157-pounder Kenny Faulkner (Beliot/ West Branch) and sophomore All-Ohio Athletic Conference 197-pounder Tyler Maclellan (Medina/ CVCA) all won by decision and Gunter and sophomore 125-pounder Chris Doyle (Akron/ Green) each won by forfeit.
Against Thiel Doyle, Gunter, Chase, and Maclellan all gained technical fouls in their respective weight classes. Schmidt won the 149-pound match by a 6-3 count, Faulkner won by a 6-3 count, and senior 285-pounder Joe Belford (Berea / St. Edward) by a 5-0 count. Lebrun won by forfeit.
The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 26 when BW hosts Ohio Athletic Conference rival Muskingum University in the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center at 7:30 p.m.