Wrestling claims 26-21 non-conference victory over Manchester (Ind.) for first dual win in 2018-19 campaign
By Blake Moore
ADA — After trailing 12-4 through three weight classes, the Ohio Northern wrestling program won five of the seven remaining bouts Friday evening to knock off NCAA Division III foe Manchester (Ind.) 26-21 for their first dual victory in the 2018-19 campaign.
With the win, the Polar Bears improve to 1-2 overall on the season. Meanwhile, the Spartans drop to 1-6 overall in dual action this year.
Junior 125-pounder Seth Transue (Plain City/Dublin Jerome) kicked off the winning effort, capturing an 8-0 major decision over Manchester's Josh Stephenson.
The Spartans responded quickly and earned back-to-back pins at 133 and 141 to take a 12-4 advantage. However, junior 149-pounder Jeff Andrews (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) cut the Manchester lead to two in the following bout, answering the short run with a pin over JaVon Phillips in the first period.
After a Spartan decision at 157, freshman Jordan Hardrick (Huber Heights/Wayne) and senior Clayton Davidson (Kirtland) put the Polar Bears on top 17-15 with two consecutive victories. The former would secure a tight-knit 4-3 decision due to a ride time point while the latter rolled to a 14-2 major decision, his first in the 2018-19 campaign.
Sophomore 184-pounder Cash Thompson (Lake Odessa, Mich./Lakewood) continued the Northern rally, knocking off his opponent with a 7-2 decision.
Freshman Chase Gibson (Bronson, Mich.) would round out the Polar Bear victories with a forfeit win at 197 pounds.
"Manchester always wrestles us tough," head coach Ron Beaschler stated following the match. "They don't make many offensive moves and are very good defensively. Manchester waits for you to make the mistakes, and we had to eliminate those mistakes tonight. We were able to do that, and we are now in the win column."
The Polar Bears will resume their 2018-19 schedule with an eastwark trek to the annual Washington & Lee (Va.) Duals on Monday, December 17. The meet is slated to get underway at 10 a.m.
Manchester (Ind.) 21, Ohio Northern 26
125 — Seth Transue (ONU) major dec. Josh Stephenson, 8-0
133 — Skyler Gomez (MU) pinned Cameron Poulton, 6:27
141 — Elijuh Phillips (MU) pinned Brandon Bartlome, 1:51
149 — Jeff Andrews (ONU) pinned JaVon Phillips, 2:14
157 — Joel Arney (MU) dec. Schuyler Caprella, 6-3
165 — Jordan Hardrick (ONU) dec. Jeremiah Ford, 4-3
174 — Clayton Davidson (ONU) major dec. Wilson Lopshire, 14-2
184 — Cash Thompson (ONU) dec. Shane Stits, 7-2
197 — Chase Gibson (ONU) won via forfeit
285 — Nick Joyner (MU) pinned Austin Keeley, :38
Exhibition Matches
149 - Shaun Wagner (ONU) dec. Stevan Najeeb, 10-6
174 - Tyler Leonhard (MU) dec. Connor Kwiat, 8-2