TIFFIN, Ohio – The 13th-ranked (January 28, 2015 National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III national poll) Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team defeated Ohio Athletic Conference rival Heidelberg University, 20-19, by criteria in the Seiberling Gymnasium.
The match was tied, 19-19, and each team won five matches. Each team had a pin and a major decision, but the Yellow Jackets earned the win via a 49-42 advantage in points scored, which is the third criteria utilized to decide a tied match. That advantage gave BW the bonus point to win the match.
BW ends its regular season with a school-record 17 victories (the old mark was 12) and finished 17-5 overall mark and second during the OAC dual match schedule with a 4-1 mark.
BW grabbed a 3-0 lead when junior 125-pound All-American Jesse Gunter (Coventry), who is ranked third in Division III, defeated Heidelberg junior Ty Price, 6-4, to improve to 22-2 this season and 89-9 in his career.
The lead grew to 7-0 when freshman 133-pounder Markus Cruz (Lorain/ Clearview) won by a 16-8 major decision over Heidelberg sophomore Joe Brodman. The win improved Cruz to 25-16.
The Student Princes cut their deficit to 7-3 when junior 141-pounder Justin Kihn earned a 3-1 sudden victory/ overtime decision against BW sophomore Josh Decatur (Akron/ Cuyahoga Calley Christian Academy). The loss dropped Decatur to 30-9 this season and 46-29 in his career. Heidelberg closed to 7-6 when junior 149-pounder Damon Cheek defeated BW junior Joey Schmidt, 6-4, when he took down Schmidt with five seconds remaining. The loss dropped Schmidt to 29-21 this season and 56-46 for his career. HC grabbed a 12-7 lead when freshman 157-pounder Tyler Fahrer pinned BW sophomore Graham Montague (Independence) in 4:13. Montague fell to 18-13 this season and 40-32 for his career.
The Yellow Jackets cut their deficit to 12-10 when junior 165-pounder David Shapiro (Beachwood) defeated Heidelberg freshman Myles Wright, 14-7, as he improved to 30-6 this season and 97-33 in his career. BW retook the lead at 13-12 when junior 174-pounder Garrett Chase (Erie, Pa./ Cathedral Prep) defeated Student Prince senior Brennan Kelly, 5-1, to improve to a team-best 34-6 this season and 93-28 in his career.
Heidelberg regained the lead at 16-13 when senior 184-pounder Richard Dowdley won by an 11-3 major decision over BW junior Ben LeBrun (Strongsville). The loss dropped LeBrun to 28-11 this season and 70-42 in his career.
BW freshman 197-pounder Tyler Maclellan (Medina/ CVCA) gave the lead back to the Yellow Jackets, 19-16, with a pin of Heidelberg freshman Ricky Bruce in 4:05 to improve to 17-6 this season.
At 285 pounds, BW Head Coach Jamie Gibbs went with sophomore Andrew Shackelford (Worthington/ Thomas Worthington), who usually wrestles at 197 pounds, and it paid off. Despite losing 2-0 to Heidelberg junior Nino Majoy, he kept Majoy from scoring more than three points, and he kept him from giving the Student Princes more total points in the match. Despite the los, Shackelford dropped to 25-9 this season and 43-24 in his career.
The Yellow Jackets next compete at the 2015 NCAA Division III Regional Tournament is on March 1 at Messiah (Pa.) College in Grantham, Pennsylvania on Sunday, March 29.
