Wrestlers move to 3-2 on season with 22-16 non-conference victory at Mount Saint Joseph

Drew Michel

By Tim Glon

CINCINNATI — The Ohio Northern wrestling team improved to 3-2 on the season with a 22-16 non-conference victory at Mount Saint Joseph Tuesday night at the Harrington Center.

The victory is the second of the season for the Polar Bears over the Lions (4-8), as ONU topped MSJ 24-11 at the Olivet Duals on Nov. 22.

With the score tied at 16-16, senior Drew Michel and sophomore Joe Fisher won at 197 and heavyweight, respectively, to put the match away for the Polar Bears.

Michel won by decision over Nathan Rychlik 8-3 at 197 and Fisher rode out an 8-6 win over Tom Taylor at heavyweight.

Northern got off to a quick 10-0 lead as David Penny won by major decision 8-0 over Ethan Miller at 125 and Jeff Penny won by fall over Nathan Harmon in 2:42 at 133 pounds.

After the Lions had tied the match at 10-10 with wins at 141 and 149, Northern got a 2-1 decision at 157 by sophomore Luke Miller and a 6-2 decision at 165 by freshman Billy Painter to go back up 16-10.

MSJ answered with decisions at 174 and 184 to tie the match again at 16-16, setting up the late match heroics by Michel and Fisher.

The Polar Bears will return to action next Tuesday in their 2008-09 home opener against Manchester (Ind.) at 7:30 pm at the ONU Sports Center.

Ohio Northern 22, Mount Saint Joseph 16
125 - David Penny (ONU) maj. dec. Ethan Miller, 8-0
133 - Jeff Penny (ONU) pinned Nathan Harmon, 2:42
141 - Eric Meyer (MSJ) maj. dec. Zach Sully, 12-1
149 - Dave Harris (MSJ) pinned Ben Marks, 3:58
157 - Luke Miller (ONU) dec. Bryan Massong, 2-1
165 - Billy Painter (ONU) dec. Tim Pope, 6-2
174 - Nick Terry (MSJ) dec. Joe Schager, 5-3
184 - Chad Craft (MSJ) dec. Matt Alexander, 3-2
197 - Drew Michel (ONU) dec. Nathan Rychlik, 8-3
285 - Joe Fisher (ONU) dec. Tom Taylor, 8-6