WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA – Freshman 125-pounder Jesse Gunter (Akron/Coventry) won his first collegiate championship as the Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team competed today (Saturday, November 10, 2012) at the Washington & Jefferson College Invitational Tournament. This was the second tournament of the season for the Yellow Jackets.
BW was led by Gunter, as well as freshman 165-pounder David Shapiro (Beachwood) who placed third. Placing fifth for the Yellow Jackets was freshman 157-pounder Garrett Chase (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) and 184-pounder Lane Louive (Massillon/ Washington). Junior 141-pounder Andrew Taylor (Columbus/ Worthington Kilbourne) also placed sixth.
Gunter compiled a 4-0 record with one pin, one major decision and two decisions en route to his individual title. He defeated Willie Bohince of Mercyhurst (Pa.) in the championship match by a score of 3-2. With his impressive performance, Gunter has now improved to 8-1 overall on the season. Shapiro compiled a 4-1 mark with one technical fall, one major decision and three decisions. He lost to the eventual champion Clint Schaefer of Mercyhurst (Pa.) in the semi-finals, but then bounced back to win his next two matches to place third. In his third place match, Shapiro defeated Angelo Bortoluzzi of Mercyhurst (Pa.) by a 4-3 decision. He is now has a 5-2 overall record.
Chase compiled a 5-1 mark with one technical fall and four decisions. In his fifth place match, Chase defeated Joel Paolo of Pitt-Johnstown (Pa.) by a 7-3 decision. He is now has a 10-2 overall record. Louive compiled a 6-1 mark with one pin, two technical falls, two major decisions and one decision. In his fifth place match, Louive dominated Kelly Brennan of Heidelberg with a 15-0 technical fall. He has now improved to 10-2 overall record. Taylor compiled a 4-2 mark with an impressive four pins to account for his victories. After losing his first match, he then won his next four matches to reach the semi-finals of the consolation bracket, before falling in his final two matches to place sixth. This was Taylor's first competition of the season.
Also posting a winning or .500 slate were freshman Zach Walker (Fairlawn/ Copley) was 3-2 at 133 pounds, sophomore Sam McIntosh (South Euclid/ Brush) was 3-2 at 149 pounds, freshman Kyle Johnston (Lancaster) was 2-2 at 157 pounds, freshman Connor Lesniak (Altoona, Pa./ Altoona) was 3-2 at 157 pounds, freshman Ben LeBrun (Strongsville) was 2-2 at 174 pounds, freshman Joe Belford (Berea/ St. Edwards) was 3-2 at 285 pounds, and freshman Brett Spinelli (Wadsworth) was 2-2 at 285 pounds.
The BW wrestlers are back in action next Saturday, November 17 when they travel to Ashland to compete in the 18th Annual Harris Open Invitational hosted by Ashland University 10:00 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.
