NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The two-time defending Ohio Athletic Conference champion and sixth-nationally ranked Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team finished in second at the annual Spartan Mat Classic hosted by Manchester University inside the Stauffer-Wolfe Arena.
BW, who was second of 17 teams and was just a half point behind champion Wabash (Ind.) College, was led by freshman 125-pounder Chad Craft (Dayton/Northmont), junior All-OAC 184-pounder Zeckary Lehman (Akron/Revere) and Senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC 197-pounder Tyler Maclellan (Medina/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) and senior 285-pounder Gabe Mahaney (Green) as each claimed an individual title. Chad Craft won by pinfall in 4:03, picked up decision wins by scores of 6-2 and 5-3 and claimed the title with a 3-2 decision. Lehman received a bye, won a 13-8 decision, won by pinfall in 1:51, earned a 14-2 major decision and earned the title by pinfall in 3:31. Maclellan picked up a 19-2 technical fall, won by pinfall in 41 seconds, won a 5-0 decision and won the title with a 10-5 decision. Mahaney received a bye, won by pinfalls in 1:40 and 3:20, earned a 9-0 major decision, took a 2-1 decision and earned the individual title with a pinfall in 6:42.
Taking second were sophomore 125-pounder Nicholas Berry (Laura/Dayton Carroll), sophomore 133-pounder Dante Ginnetti (Poland/Seminary), junior All-OAC 157-pounder Benjamin Hoof (Worthington/Thomas Worthington), junior 174-pounder Justin Ransom (Madison). Berry won by pinfall in 1:12, posted decision victories by scores of 7-3 and 7-6 and fell to Chad Craft in the championship. Ginnetti won his first three matches by pinfall in 1:25, 5:44 and 5:57 and fell in the championship match. Hoof received a bye, won by a 14-8 major decision, won by pinfall in 2:14, won a 3-2 decision and fell in the tile match. Ransom received a bye, won by pinfalls in 4:08 and 4:04, posted a 7-1 decision and fell in the championship.
Finishing in third place were sophomore 133-pounder Charlie Nash (Norwalk) and freshman 149-pounder Stanley Bleich (North Ridgeville/Elyria Catholic). Nash won by pinfall in 4:07, won a 7-5 decision, fell in his third match, won a 4-0 decision and won a 2-1 decision. Bleich won by pinfall in 6:15, won by a 7-6 and 8-6 decisions, fell in the semifinals and claimed a 13-3 major decision.
Placing fourth were freshman 133-pounder Chase Craft (Dayton/Northmont). Chase Craft won by technical fall with a score of 15-0, won by a 1-0 decision, fell to Ginnetti in the semifinals, won a 7-2 decision and fell in his final match.
Finishing in fifth place was sophomore 125-pounder Christian Wellman (Applecreek/Waynedale) and freshman 141-pounder Tanner McHugh (New Ringgold, Pa. /Tamaqua). Wellman earned a 13-1 major decision, fell in his second match, picked up a 15-6 major decision, earned a 10-3 decision, fell in his fifth match and won a 12-4 major decision. McHugh received a bye, won by pinfall in 2:54, posted a 10-7 decision and fell in his next two matches and won by no contest.
Placing sixth were sophomore 141-pounder Aaron Kelly (Rocky River) and senior 174-pounder Grant Rathburn (New Albany/Bishop Hartley). Aaron Kelly won by pinfall in 2:59, fell in his second match, won a 9-2 decision, picked up a pinfall in 1:37, earned a 10-2 major decision, took a 6-0 decision and fell in final match. Rathburn fell in his first match, received a bye, won by pinfall IN 1:24, earned technical falls by scores of 17-0 and 16-0, fell in his fifth match, won a 16-4 major decision and fell in his final match.
Finishing in seventh place was freshman 133-pounder Errik Gerback (Louisville/Marlington). Gerback fell in his first match, won an 11-0 major decision, posted a 7-4 decision, fell in fourth match and won by pinfall in 5:41.
Finishing eighth place were, freshman 141-pounder Tai Bloch (Worthington/Hilliard Darby) and freshman 157-pounder Trevor Scherf (Graytown/Oak Harbor). Bloch received a bye, fell in his second match, posted decision wins by scores of 8-3, 3-2 and 5-4, then fell in his fifth match and fell in his final match. Scherf received a bye, won a 3-1 decision, fell in his third match, won a 3-2 decision and lost by no contest.
BW is back in action on Tuesday, January 23 when it hosts an OAC dual match against Otterbein University in the Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center at 7:30 p.m.
