MECHANICSVILLE, Pennsylvania -- The 14th-ranked Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team (NWCA Division III national poll) placed fifth of 13 teams at the Petrofes Invitational hosted by Messiah (Pa.) College inside the Brubaker Auditorium.
BW (4-3) was led by sophomore 179-pounder Tyler Maclellan (Medina / Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) with his third place finish. Maclellan finished the tournament with a record of 5-1. He advanced to the semifinals in the winner's bracket before losing in overtime. Maclellan came back to win in his match for third place.
Senior 285-pounder Joe Belford (Berea / Lakewood St. Edward), a four-year starter, and junior 174-pounder Kenny Faulkner (Beliot / West Branch) each had fourth place finishes. Belford advanced to the quarterfinals of the winner's bracket and finished with a 5-2 record. Faulkner also advanced to the quarters and finished 4-2 overall.
Junior 157-pounder Graham Montague (Independence), freshman 174-pounder Anthony Arroyo (Maumee) and freshman 285-pounder Michael Gregory (Toledo / Toledo Central Catholic) each finished fifth in their respective weight-classes. Montague lost his first match and then reeled off five straight wins before losing in the consolation semifinals. He had a team-leading six wins and finished 6-2 overall. Arroyo advanced to the semifinals of the winner's bracket before being beaten and then lost to Faulker to place fifth. Gregory also advanced to the winner's bracket semi's before losing, won once in the consolation round before Belford beat him in the semifinals of the consolation bracket.
Also, freshman 157-pounder Richie Burke (Laport, Ind./ Laport), junior 2015 NCAA Division III national qualifier and 141-pounder Josh Decatur (Akron/ CVCA), sophomore 184-pounder Gabe Mahaney (North Canton/ Green) and sophomore 125-pounder Chris Doyle (Akron/ Green) each finished seventh. Burke was 5-2, Decatur was 4-2, Mahaney was 3-2 and Doyle was 3-2 overall.
NOTE: BW finished fifth at Messiah and six of its starters, two-time Division III All-American 133-pounder Jesse Gunter (Akron/ Coventry), senior 174-pounder and Division III All-American Garrett Chase (Erie, Pa./ Cathedral Prep), senior 165-pounder and 2014 Div. III national qualifier David Shapiro (Beachwood), senior 4-year starter at 149 pounds Joey Schmidt (Hinckley/ Brunswick), senior 4-year starter at 184 pounds Ben LeBrun (Strongsville) and sophomore transfer Jimmy Sandlin (Carlisle) did not compete at Messiah.
To date, Montague tops the Yellow Jackets with 10 victories and a 10-4 overall record. Gunter is unbeaten at 133 pounds at 7-0. Faulkner, Decatur and Burke are all tied for second with eight victories.
The Yellow Jacket wrestlers are back in action on Saturday, December 12 when they travel to Waynesburg, Pennsylvania for the Waynesburg Duals hosted by Waynesburg (Pa.) University inside the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse at 10 a.m. Then the BW wrestlers will travel to Las Vegas, Nevada on December 18 and will compete at the annual Desert Duals on December 21. The Yellow Jackets will wrestle four dual matches.
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The 2016 BW Annual John Summa Memorial Tournament will take place on Saturday, February 6. If you are interested in volunteering to help at a scorer's table or in the hospitality area or assume other duties, please contact BW Head Coach Jamie Gibbs either via e-mail at jgibbs@bw.edu or by phone at 440-826-3258.
