Wrestling blanks Manchester (Ind.) 48-0 in home opener

Mick Letcher

By Tim Glon

ADA -- Ohio Northern got three pins and won all 10 weight classes to sweep Manchester (Ind.) 48-0 in the 2008-09 home opener Tuesday night at the ONU Sports Center.

The Polar Bears improve to 4-2, while the Spartans fall to 0-4.

Freshman Mick Letcher notched his first college fall in his first collegiate match when he pinned Torryn Heffelfinger in 2:06 at 149 pounds.

Joe Spooner used three takedowns to grab an 8-6 lead, then got three back points in the final 20 seconds to decision Sam Carsey 11-6 at 141 pounds and give the Polar Bears a 15-0 lead.

Sophomore Luke Miller improved to 5-1 on the season with a 14-4 major decision over Ryan Monce at 157 pounds.

Senior 2007 OAC champion A.J. Coleman, who was seeing his first action of the season, won by decision over Chris Becker 10-4 at 165 pounds.

In the most entertaining match of the night, Collin Swick got a pin over Roderick Gallegos at 3:51 of the bout. Swick was leading 10-9 at the time of the pin and the wrestlers had combined for four takedowns and five back points.

In the 184-pound weight class, Freshman Matt Alexander used an impressive nine takedowns to post a 20-9 major decision over Jordan Knox at 184 pounds to move to 2-4 on the year.

Senior Drew Michel used five takedowns and two near fall points to  post a 13-3 major decision over Tyler Lathon at 197 pounds and improve to 3-1 on the season.

Joe Fisher wrapped things up with authority with a pin of Jordan Cox in 1:27 at the heavyweight class.

Northern got off to a quick 12-0 lead when David Penny and Jeff Penny won by forfeit at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively.

"We came out and took care of business," ONU head coach Ron Beaschler said. "We continued to improve, which was good. This was a nice match to get ready for this weekend's ONU Invitational."

ONU held an impressive 28-4 advantage in takedowns in the contest.

The Polar Bears will return to action Saturday when they host the 19-team, 29th annual ONU Invitational at 9 am at the ONU Sports Center.

Ohio Northern 48, Manchester (Ind.) 0

125 - David Penny (ONU) won by forfeit
133 - Jeff Penny (ONU) won by forfeit
141 - Joe Spooner (ONU) dec. Sam Carsey, 11-6
149 - Mick Letcher (ONU) pinned Torryn Heffelfinger, 2:06
157 - Luke Miller (ONU) maj. dec. Ryan Monce, 14-4
165 - A.J. Coleman (ONU) dec. Chris Becker, 10-4
174 - Collin Swick (ONU) pinned Roderick Gallegos, 3:51
184 - Matt Alexander (ONU) maj. dec. Jordan Knox, 20-9
197 - Drew Michel (ONU) maj. dec. Tyler Lathon, 13-3
285 - Joe Fisher (ONU) pinned Jordan Cox, 1:27

Exhibition

149 - Jeff Sommers (ONU) tech. fall Clint Fisher, 7:00, 17-2
285 - Casey Bushong (MC) dec. Blake Miller, 10-4