BEREA, Ohio – The No. 7 Nationally-Ranked Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team hosted the 34th annual John Summa Invitational and placed second out of 11 teams with 142.5 points, inside the Lou Higgins Center.
Senior All-American and Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference No. 4 Individually-ranked 133-pounder Charlie Nash (Norwalk) led BW and placed first with 21.5 points. After receiving a first-round bye Nash won his second-round bout with a forty-second pin and followed that up with a 15-0 technical fall in his quarterfinal match. The senior grabbed a 7-2 decision in his semifinal bout. Nash captured the first place finish after a medical forfeit from his fellow teammate, Chad Craft (Dayton/Northmont).
Junior two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference and Academic All-OAC No. 5 149-pounder Stanley Bleich (North Ridgeville/Elyria Catholic) placed first with 19.5 points. He won with a 17-1 tech fall to start his day and followed that up with a 1:26 pin in his quarterfinal. Bleich breezed to a 12-2 major decision in his semifinal match and secured his championship bout by way of a 7-4 decision.
Senior All-American and two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference No. 6 197-pounder Zeckary Lehman (Akron/Revere) placed first with 18 points. Lehman started his day with a bye before a 6-0 decision in his second-round match. For his quarterfinal, he pinned his opponent in a minute and forty-two seconds. The senior secured a hard fought 2-0 decision in his semifinal bout. Lehman secured the title with an 11-4 decision.
Freshman 174-pounder Luke Salmon (Sandusky/Perkins) placed second with 19.5 points. In his opening round, the freshman secured a fifty-nine second pin before a 16-1 tech fall in his second-round bout. In his quarterfinal, Salmon seized a 13-2 major decision. The freshman advanced to the finals with a 9-1 decision in his semifinal match. Salmon fell in his finals bout to a 9-4 decision.
Junior 133-pounder Chad Craft (Dayton/Northmont) placed second with 18 points. Craft received a first-round bye and then secured a 1:16 pin in his second-round. For his quarterfinal, the junior won by way of a 5:20 pin, before a 4-2 decision in his semifinal bout.
Freshman 125-pounder Jack Stanley (Brecksville / Brecksville-Broadview Heights) placed third and finished with 15.5 points. Stanley fell in his semifinal bout to a narrow 6-5 decision. The freshman secured his third place bout with a 3:40 pin.
Senior two-time Academic All-OAC 157-pounder Nick Sbrocco (Perry) placed fourth with 10 points.
Freshman 184-pounder Griffin Rathburn (New Albany/Bishop Hartley) earned a fifth place finish with 12.5 points. He won his fifth place bout with a medical forfeit.
Sophomore 285-pounder Jarod Miller (Greenville, Pa./Reynolds) earned a fifth spot with 12 points. Miller secured a medical forfeit for his fifth place finish.
Freshman 197-pounder Matthew Wertz (Buffalo, N.Y. / Saint Joseph's Collegiate Institute) placed sixth with 9 points.
Junior 165-pounder Ryan Orr (Wadsworth) secured a fifth place spot with 11 points. The junior grabbed his fifth place match with a 15-5 major decision.
BW will hit the mats next against West Liberty (W. Va.) University on Friday February, 14 for Seniors' Night. Match is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.
