LA CROSSE, Wis. – Baldwin Wallace University sophomore All-Ohio Athletic Conference 165-pound wrestler Anthony Arroyo (Maumee) earned NCAA Division III All-American honors with a fifth place finish at the 2017 NCAA Div. III National Championship Tournamet hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse inside the La Crosse Center in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
Arroyo had a 3-2 record to end his sophomore season at 32-6 and upped his career mark to 56-15 after two seasons. He won his first match on Friday with an 8-4 win by decision versus Nick Velez of Ithaca (N.Y.) College. He moved into the winner's bracket semifinals with a pin of second-seeded Ryan Vandall of Central College of Iowa in 6:42. On Saturday, he lost his first match to third-seeded Stephen Jarrell of Johnson & Wales (R.I.) University to drop to the consolation bracket. After a loss to Augsburg (Minn.) College's Lucas Jeske, Arroyo ended his weekend by pinning sixth-seeded Nolan Barger of Lycoming (Pa.) College in 2:12 to place fifth and earned his first All-America honor.
Joining Arroyo at the Div. III national meet were senior 141-pounder Josh Decatur (Akron/ Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy), junior 125-pounder Chris Doyle (Akron/ Green) and junior 285-pounder Gabe Mahaney (Uniontown/ Green). This was Decatur's second appearance and the first for Doyle and Mahaney. Decatur won his first two matches and then dropped consecutive matches to finish his season at 23-15 and end his career with a 72-47 record. Doyle had a 1-2 slate as he lost his first match, won his second and lost his third to end his third campaign at 27-14 overall. Mahaney dropped his only two matches to finish 27-8 this season.
The BW wrestlers had an outstanding season. At the NCAA Division III National tourney, BW finished 25th of 58 teams. The Yellow Jackets were ranked ninth nationally by the NWCA (National Wrestling Coaches Association), won a school record 22 dual matches, had a 22-3 overall record, including a second straight undefeated Ohio Athletic Conference season at 6-0, won a second straight OAC title and placed second at the NCAA Div. III Mideast Regional for the second straight year.
