Pawlitz's pin leads No. 24 Wrestling to 20-19 OAC victory at No. 14 Mount Union

By: Tim Glon

ADA — Sophomore Michael Pawlitz picked up a key pin at 197 pounds, lifting the No. 24 Ohio Northern wrestling team to a 20-19 Ohio Athletic Conference victory at  No. 14 Mount Union Tuesday night.

The Polar Bears improve to 9-4 overall and are 2-0 in OAC action, while the Purple Raiders fall to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in the OAC.

This was the fifth consecutive match for ONU against a nationally-ranked opponent. ONU is 4-1 in those matches.

Trailing 16-14 after eight weight classes, Pawlitz put ONU up 20-16 with a pin in 2:48.

Freshman Cody Lovejoy then iced the victory by staying with All-American Derick Hesson in the heavyweight class.

Hesson eked out a 7-6 win, but the three team points were not enough to overcome ONU's four-point lead and gave the Polar Bears the 20-19 victory.

Sophomore Cole Cochran got ONU off to a quick start with a 5-4 decision at 125 pounds.

After three Purple Raider victories gave MtU a 13-3 lead, ONU rattled off three straight victories to rally.

Senior Mick Letcher won by major decision 13-5 at 157 pounds, junior and No. 5-ranked Billy Painter won by decision 6-0 at 165 and two-time All-American and No. 3-ranked Kyle Kwiat won by major decision 14-2 at 174 to give ONU a 14-13 lead.

Mount Union won by decision at 184 pounds to take a 16-14 lead, setting up ONU's late rally.

No. 24 Ohio Northern 20, No. 14 Mount Union 19
125 - Cole Cochran (ONU) dec. Brad Kress, 5-4.
133 - Bryant Roby (MtU) dec. Jeremy Jones, 3-1
141 - Josh malave (MtU) pinned Ryan Fowler, 6:26
149 - Kevin Shadrich (MtU) maj. dec. Brandon Howes, 11-3
157 - Michael Letcher (ONU) maj. dec. Jon Garrison, 13-5
165 - William Painter (ONU) dec. Joe Schindel, 6-0
174 - Kyle Kwiat (ONU) maj. dec. Jeremy Hathaway, 14-2
184 - Andy Jenkins (MtU) dec. Dennis Recknagel, 4-1
197 - Michael Pawlitz (MtU) pinned Divon Jones, 2:48
285 - Derick Hesson (MtU) dec. Cody Lovejoy, 7-6