ADA, 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 Ohio Northern University, 18-12, in the ONU Sports Center. The victory increased BW's single-season school-record victory total to 16.
BW (16-5 overall, 3-1 in the OAC) grabbed a 3-0 lead when junior 125-pound All-American Jesse Gunter (Coventry) won 3-0 to improve to 21-2 this season and 88-9 in his career. A 6-5 loss by freshman 133-pounder Markus Cruz (Lorain/ Clearview) tied the match at 3-3. Cruz dropped to 24-16 this season. . The Yellow Jackets regained the lead when sophomore 141-pounder Josh Decatur (Akron/ CVCA) earned a 10-3 win and improved to a 30-8 this season and 46-28 for his career. The lead grew to 9-3 when junior Joey Schmidt (Hinckley/ Brunswick won 6-1 to improve to 29-20 this season and 66-45 overall. The Polar Bears ended the first half of the match with a 5-1 win at 157 pounds, and BW sophomore Graham Montague (Independence) fell to 18-12 this season and 40-31 overall.
ONU tied the match at 9-9 with a 6-4 decision at 165 pounds, and BW junior David Shapiro (Beachwood) dropped to 29-6 this season and 96-33 overall. BW junior 174-pounder Garrett Chase (Erie, Pa./ Cathedral Prep), this week's OAC Wrestler of the Week for the second time this season won 2-0 to give the Jackets a 12-9 lead. Chase improved to a team-best 33-6 this season and 92-28 for his career. Junior 184-pounder Ben LeBrun (Strongsville) extended the lead to 15-9 with a 6-3 victory. He improved to 28-10 this season and 70-41 in his career. Freshman 197-pounder Tyler Maclellan (Medina/ CVCA) cliched the victory for the Yellow Jackets with a 6-2 triumph as he improved to 16-6 overall, including 4-0 against OAC foes. An ONU win at 285 pounds by its senior and No.1-ranked wrestler in Di. III closed out the scoring. With his loss, BW junior 285-pounder Joe Belford dropped to 17-12 this season and 50-38 for his career.
The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Tuesday, February 17 when they travel to Tiffin, Ohio to face Ohio Athletic Conference rival Heidelberg University in the Seiberling Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m. This is the final regular season event for BW. The 2015 NCAA Division III Regional Tournament is on March 1 at Messiah (Pa.) College.
