PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND – The Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team competed today at the unscored East Coast Holiday Classic tournament hosted by Johnson & Wales University at the Wildcat Center. The Yellow Jackets were one of seven teams competing from the NCAA Division III & NJCAA ranks featured in the tournament.
BW was led by freshman Jesse Gunter (Akron/Coventry) as he captured the 125-weight class championhsip. He went 3-0 on the day and now has a record of 17-1 on the season, including winning three championships in five tournaments. Gunter pinned Richard Glazie of Norwich in 2:33, then won by major decision over Andrew Gauthier of Johnson & Wales and cpatured the title as he won by decision over Mike Sugermeyer of RIC.
Capturing second place for the Yellow Jackets were freshman 133-pounder Zach Walker (Fairlawn/Copley) and freshman 157-pounder Garrett Chase (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep).
Walker posted a record of 1-1 and now has a season mark of 15-8. He reached the second round via a bye, then defeated Trevor Pruett of Wisconsin-Whitewater by a 7-2 decision and fell to eventual champion Grant Sutter of Whitewater.
Chase went 2-1 on the day and now is 21-7 overall. He also had a first round-bye, then defeated Cam Loomis of Whitewater by a 7-3 decision, Irvin Buck of NCC by a decison of 5-3 and then fell to Everet Desilets of JWU in the championship match.
Freshman Joe Schmidt (Hinckley/Brunswick) finished third in the 149 weight class as he posted a mark of 3-1. Schmidt pinned Colby Clarke of JWU in 1:22, fell in is next match and came back to win his last two matches by pin over Alex Kwmuntis of Norwich and by a 6-3 decision over Colby Clarke. He now has a season record 13-7
Finishing fourth for BW was 165-pounder David Shapiro (Beachwood) and 174-pounder Ben LeBrun (Strongsville).
Shapiro posted a tournament record of 3-2 and now has a season mark of 16-9. He pinned Ryan Rheaume of RIC but then lost his next match before winning his next two matches by techical fall (15-0) over Taylor Jacobs of Norwich and by major decision (11-2) over Frankie Marotti of JWU. Shapiro fell to Stephen Jarrell of JWU in the third place match.
LeBrun went 2-2 on the day as he won his first match by pin in 5:10 over Adam Zeh of Whitewater, fell in his second match, won his third match by an 8-4 decision over Nick Smith of Norwich and fell in the third place match to Zeh. He is now 11-10 overall.
The Yellow Jackets have some time to rest as they are back in action on Saturday, January 12, 2013 when they travel to Indiana for the Manchester Invitational tournament at 9:00 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.
