Wrestling drops tough 23-17 decision to NCAA Division I foe Davidson

By Tim Glon

ADA -- Ohio Northern wrestling dropped a 23-17 dual match to NCAA Division I foe Davidson Wednesday afternoon at the ONU Sports Center.

The Polar Bears fall to 4-3, while the Wildcats improve to 3-4.

Northern won five of the nine contested bouts, but Davidson got a pin, two major decisions and a forfeit to post the win.

"I was proud of the way we wrestled today," ONU head coach Ron Beaschler said. "We won five of the nine weight classes, we were aggressive and we competed well. Davidson is a Division I school, so we expected it to be tough."

Senior Cody Harting got ONU on the board with a 6-1 decision at 141 pounds. Harting pulls his record even at 4-4 on the season.

Harding had two first period takedowns to build a 4-1 lead, then had an escape and riding time to register the win.

Freshman Colt Lovejoy threw a shutout at 165 pounds, winning by decision 5-0 to pull Ohio Northern within 20-6. Lovejoy used a pair of takedowns and an escape to post the victory and improve to 2-0 on the season.

Sophomore Tyler Gargano had an impressive five takedowns and registered his 10th victory of the year, winning 10-6 at 174 pounds to pull ONU within 20-9. He is now 10-2 on the season.

Senior Michael Pawlitz used four takedowns, a 3-point near fall and riding time to post a 15-1 victory at 197 pounds for ONU. Pawlitz is now 3-0 with two pins and a major decision on the year.

In the final bout of the match, junior Cody Lovejoy used three takedowns and a 3-point nearfall to win 11-1 at heavyweight and improves to a team-best 12-1 oin the season.

The Polar Bears will return to action Friday and Saturday at the Lycoming (Pa.) Duals. ONU will begin the double-elimination dual meet tournament Friday at 10:30 am against No. 14-ranked Johnson & Wales (R.I.)

Davidson 23, Ohio Northern 17

125 -- Jordan Wand (Dav) won by forfeit
133 -- Anthony Elias (Dav) maj. dec. Cole Cochran, 10-1
141 -- Cody Harting (ONU) dec. James McCord, 6-1
149 -- Kevin Birmingham (Dav) pinned Gennar Feucht, :47
157 -- Nick Pappayliou (Dav) maj. dec. Kyle Brezovec, 14-2
165 -- Colt Lovejoy (ONU) dec. Patrick Devlin, 5-0
174 -- Tyler Gargano (ONU) dec. Nathaniel Powers, 10-6
184 -- Scott Patrick (Dav) dec. David Woolley, 2-0
197 -- Michael Pawlitz (ONU) maj. dec. Michael Moore, 15-1
285 -- Cody Lovejoy (ONU) maj. dec. Eddie Isola, 12-1