ALLIANCE, Ohio – The No. 6 nationally-ranked Baldwin Wallace wrestling team concluded the 2021 season as it won its fifth Ohio Athletic Conference Championship in the last six years as it defeated Heidelberg University and No. 9 nationally-ranked University of Mount Union inside the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.
BW (6-0, 6-0 OAC) opened the day by handing Mount Union its first OAC dual loss since February of 2018 by a score of 27-14. The Yellow Jackets closed the day with a 39-6 victory over Heidelberg.
#6 BW vs. #9 Mount Union
BW won six of 10 matches for the victory. Sophomore All-OAC 125-pounder Jack Stanley (Brecksville/Brecksville), who is ranked opened the match with 4-1 decision. Senior All-American and Academic All-American 157-pounder Stanley Bleich (North Ridgeville/Elyria Catholic), who is ranked third nationally at 149-pounds, earned a 6-1 decision. Senior All-American165-pounder Dalton Leightner (Ravenna/Rootstown), who is ranked second nationally at 157-pounds and is this week's OAC Wrestler of the Week, won by pinfall in 4:12 to earn his 78th career victory. Senior 174-pounder Kevin Kelly (North Olmsted) picked up a 6-3 decision. Sophomore All-OAC pounder Lucas Salmon (Sandusky/Perkins) won by an injury default in 2:17. Sophomore All-American 197-pounder Doug Byrne (Wickliffe), who is ranked sixth nationally at 184-pounds, won by pinfall in 3:32.
#6 BW vs Heidelberg
BW won eight of 10 matches for the victory. Stanley won by forfeit at 125-pounds. Senior All-OAC 133-pounder Dante Ginetti (Poland/Seminary) tallied a pinfall in 5:27 to earn his 89th career victory. Sophomore 141-pounder Zachery Anderson (Elyria/Midview) earned a 13-5 major decision. Sophomore 149-pounder Conner DeBoe (Mentor) picked up a 16-2 major decision. Bleich tallied a 16-7 major decision victory at 157-pounds for his 105th career victory. Kelly notched a 6-2 decision at 174-pounds. Sophomore 285-pounder Drew Levis (Elyria) closed out the match with a pinfall in 6:38.
Extra Matches
The 2021 dual season will feature several "extra matches" with every scheduled dual meet. These matches will not factor into dual scoring but are official, countable matches that will be considered for postseason seeding purposes.
- Freshman 125-pounder David Panda (Columbia, Md. /Atholton) defeated Sam Tillet of Mount Union by a 12-6 decision.
- Freshman 133-pounder Jaden Hinton (Glassboro, N.J.) defeated Luke Hewitt of Mount Union with a 17-3 major decision.
- Senior 165-pounder Ryan Orr (Wadsworth) defeated Brailyn Lightner of Mount Union by pinfall in 1:50
- Junior 174-pounder Ryan Haas (Toledo/Maumee) defeated Nate Oriani of Mount Union by pinfall in 2:01
- Sophomore 184-pounder Griffin Rathburn (New Albany/Bishop Watterson) defeated Warren Gentile of Mount Union by a 15-0 technical fall.
