LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team competed in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals this weekend, taking fifth place and defeated three other nationally ranked squads, inside the Freedom Hall.
BW vs #11 Coe (Iowa) College
BW (10-2, 1-1 OAC) in the first day fell to Coe by a score of 21-16. Sophomore 141-pounder Tanner McHugh (New Ringgold, Pa./Tamaqua) earned the first Yellow Jacket victory by an 8-4 decision. Sophomore All-Ohio Athletic Conference 149-pounder grabbed the next bout with a 12-3 major decision. Senior two-time All-American Anthony Arroyo (Maumee) won his match with a 2:36 pinfall and senior All-OAC 184-pounder Justin Ransom (Madison) was the last BW victory in the dual with an 8-5 decision.
BW vs Augustana (Ill.) College
The Yellow Jackets came away with a clean sweep, 51-0 as they earned five pinfalls, one technical fall, one major decision, and two decisions. Securing pinfalls were senior 157-pounder Richie Burke (Ithica, N.Y.), Arroyo, junior 174-pounder Adam Green (Austintown/Finch), senior two-time All-OAC Zeckary Lehman (Akron/Revere), and senior Academic All-OAC 285-pounder James Ritchie (Carlisle). Junior Academic All-OAC and All-OAC 133-pounder Dante Ginnetti (Poland/Seminary) claimed the lone 19-4 tech fall.
BW vs Wisconsin-Eau Claire
In the final match of Friday, the Yellow Jackets were victorious in nine bouts and came away with the 41-3 victory. Sophomore 125-pounder Chad Craft (Dayton/Northmont) started the match with a 1:08 pinfall and Ginnetti followed as well with a pinfall. Arroyo and Ritchie were the other with pinfalls in the dual. Burke earned a 16-0 techfall and Ransom grabbed a 13-4 major decision.
BW vs #4 Ithaca (N.Y.) College
The Yellow Jackets won seven of ten bouts in the victory over Ithaca, with Craft opening the match with a 4-1 decision over No. 5 thier respective weight class, Ferdinand Mase. Ginnetti followed with a 5-3 decision. Sophomore All-OAC 149-pounder Stanley Bleich (North Ridgeville/Elyria Catholic) was the next BW victory with an 8-3 decision. Burke, senior All-OAC 174-pounder Benjamin Hooff (Worthington/Thomas Worthington), Ransom, and Lehman claimed victories by decision, giving BW the 21-16 triumph. Ransom's victory came against, Jake Ashcraft, the No. 1 wrestler in the 184lb. weight class.
BW vs #10 Wisconsin-La Crosse
BW fell behind 7-0 after the first two matches, but retaliated in the final eight and came away with the 30-13 victory over another nationally ranked opponent. McHugh reversed the tide with a tight 3-2 decision to get the Yellow Jackets on the right track. Bleich was the next BW victory, claiming an 8-3 decision in his bout. Arroyo, Hooff, Ransom, and Lehman were the other victors.
BW vs #6 Mount Union
In the final dual of the tournament, BW faced OAC foe Mount Union. The Yellow Jackets fell in the first three matches, until Bleich answered with a 5-3 decision. Arroyo claimed the next Yellow Jacket victory with a 6-4 decision, and Ransom followed with an 18-6 major decision. Down 10-16, BW needed the next two matches. Lehman earned a major decision, 8-0 and Ritchie closed it out with an 11-0 major decision, leading BW to the 18-16 victory and fifth place at the duals.
NUWAY Open
Junior Academic All-OAC 125-pounder Nicholas Berry (Laura/Dayton Carroll) grabbed fifth place, after winning two bouts with pinfalls of 1:33 and 2:17. Junior Academic All-OAC 149-pounder also garnered a fifth place finish with a 1:53 pinfall, 12-0 major decision, 2-0 decision, and an 11-4 major decision in his fifth place bout. Senior 197-pounder Christopher Head (Massillon/Jackson) earned a fourth place finish with pinfalls of 6:02 and :14. He won his final match with an 11-7 decision before falling in his third place bout. Sophomore 141-pounder Dalton Leightner (Ravenna/Rootstown) earned a seventh place finish.
