Wrestlers win OAC Regular Season crown outright with 32-13 victory at #30 Mount Union
By Steve Green
ALLIANCE – The Ohio Northern Wrestling team claimed the Ohio Athletic Conference regular season outright title with a 32-13 victory at No. 30 Mt Union Tuesday night.
Northern won 7 of 10 matches on the night, including six in a row at one point, to knock off Mt. Union in a battle the the legue crown.
With the victory the Polar Bears finish their regular season 16-10 overall and finish a perfect 6-0 in the OAC, while the Purple Raiders fall to 9-5 overall and finish third in the OAC with a 4-2 mark.
No. 24 Heidelberg finished second in the regular season standings with a 5-1 record.
Mick Letcher notched his 17th fall of the season at 149 as he pinned Richie Clark in 5:24.
Letcher improves to 25-6 on the year, and finished off his OAC record at 5-0.
No. 5 ranked All-American Luke Miller also remained undefeated in the OAC as he used a 17-0 tech. fall over Kody Severino at 6:07 to move to 6-0 in the OAC.
He is 5-0 at 157 and 1-0 at 165 and improves his overall record to 33-4.
At 165, Billy Painter was able to claim at 4-2 sudden victory decision over John Piechuta to move his season record to 19-16 and 4-1 in the OAC.
No. 4-ranked Kyle Kwiat also secured a tech. fall, winning 16-0 at 6:02 over Darin Lyles at 174 to cap off his freshman regular season with a team best 36-4 record, which includes a perfect 6-0 record in the OAC.
Matt Alexander won a 9-3 decision over Andy Jenkins at 184. Alexander is now 23-11 and 5-1 in the OAC.
Drew Swick claimed Northern's final win of the night by defeating Corey Hagan by a 12-4 major decision at 197.
Northern jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead as Louis Piszker won by forfeit at 125.
Northern will return to Alliance on February 20 to compete in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament, which will be hosted by Mt. Union at 10 am.
Ohio Northern 32, #30 Mt. Union 13
125 – Louis Piszker (ONU) wins by forfeit
133 – TJ Amone (MU) dec. Jeff Penny, 8-4
141 – Josh Malave (MU) maj. dec. Garrett Freeman, 13-4
149 – Mick Letcher (ONU) pinned Richie Clark, 5:24
157 – Luke Miller (ONU) tech. fall Kody Severino, 6:07, 17-0
165 – Billy Painter (ONU) sudden victory John Piechuta, 4-2
174 – Kyle Kwiat (ONU) tech. fall Darin Lyles, 6:02, 16-0
184 – Matt Alexander (ONU) dec. Andy Jenkins, 9-3
197 – Drew Swick (ONU) maj. dec. Corey Hagan, 12-4
285 – Derick Hesson (MU) def. Justin Southwick, ret., 4:41