By: Director of Athletic Communications & Public Relations Kevin Ruple
BEREA, Ohio – Two Baldwin Wallace University wrestlers, junior 133-pounder Charlie Nash (Norwalk) and junior 197-pounder Zeckary Lehman (Akron/Revere), each earned NCAA Division III All-America acclaim by placing in the top-eight in their respective weight class at the 2019 NCAA Division III National Wrestling Championships, hosted by Ferrum (Va.) College in Roanoke, Virginia.
Nash, who had a 3-2 record and placed fourth, won his first two matches to advance to the semifinals and earn his first All-America award. He defeated Ian Tolotti of Springfield (Mass.), 2-0, in his first match and then pinned Josh Stenger of Wisconsin LaCrosse in 6:16 in the quarterfinals.
Nash, seeded sixth, moved to the consolation bracket following a hard-fought, 7-6 loss to No. 7-seed Ben Vosters of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the semifinals. He then defeated No. 8-seed Jake Giordano of The College of New Jersey, 7-3, in the consolation semifinals. Nash ended his junior season when he lost a hard-fought, 5-3 sudden-victory decision to No. 4-seed Bobby Jones of Johnson & Wales (R.I.). He had a 29-11 record this winter and will carry an 82-37 mark into his senior season in 2019-20. His 82 victories rank 22nd all-time in school history.
Lehman earned his All-America honor by compiling a 4-2 record and placing seventh. After being stuck in a "rat-tail" preliminary match, where he was pinned by No. 2-seed Guy Patron of Loras (Iowa) in 49 seconds, Lehman battled back through the consolation bracket. He won three straight matches to move into the final eight. Lehman beat Luke Dodd of St. John's (Minn.) 6-1, Michael Curtis of Worcester Polytechnic (Mass.) 4-0, and shut out sixth-seeded Michael DiNardo of Johnson & Wales (R.I.) 6-0.
In the consolation semifinals, Lehman lost to No. 7-seed Taylor Mehmen of Coe (Iowa), 6-3. He ended the championships by defeating No. 5-seed Antonio McCloud of the College of Mount St. Joseph, 6-2, to place seventh. Lehman compiled a 28-5 record this season and enters his senior campaign with a 90-24 career mark to rank 16th all-time at BW.
In addition to Nash and Lehman, four other Yellow Jackets, junior 125-pounder Dante Ginnetti (Poland/ Seminary), senior 157-pounder Richie Burke (Ithaca, N.Y.), senior two-time All-American 165-pounder Anthony Arroyo (Maumee) and senior 184-pounder Justin Ransom (Madison), all competed. For Arroyo, it was his third national appearance. Ginnetti and Ransom were making their second appearance at the national tourney and Burke his first.
Ginnetti, who was seeded fourth, had an 0-2 record and finished 25-10 this season. He has an 85-30 career mark to rank 20th all-time. Burke also was 0-2 at the national tourney, finished the season at 22-9 and had a 72-38 career mark to rank in a tie for 32nd all-time. Arroyo, who was seeded sixth, ended an outstanding career. He was 1-2 at this year's national tourney and a 7-5 career mark at the NCAA's. Arroyo finished this season at 28-4 and his career at 120-21 to rank third all-time in wins. Ransom had a 2-2 mark this weekend and a 3-4 national slate. He was 26-9 this season and 73-28 for his career to rank 28th all-time.
Click HERE to access BW's all-time wrestling victory leaders.
In 2018-19, the Yellow Jacket wrestling team compiled a 14-2 dual match record, including a 5-1 mark in the rugged Ohio Athletic Conference to win its unprecedented fourth straight OAC title. BW placed second at the 2019 NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Tournament and was ranked as high as fifth nationally in the final NWCA (National Wrestling Coaches Association) Division III National Poll. During the past five seasons, BW has compiled a 90-20 (.818 winning percentage) dual match record and earned a national ranking each season.
