Eagles, Golden Knights Battle to 15-15 Tie

            The Ashland University wrestling team, working on short rest, tied Gannon, 15-15 on Tuesday (Jan. 18) in Erie, PA.

            After Saturday's Wendy's Classic Duals at Kates Gymnasium, AU head coach Tim Dernlan talked about the importance of the match with GU. It would be against a team on the verge of breaking into the nation's Top 20 and it would be in a hostile environment.  It would come in the midst of a busy week and it would be another indicator of how much this team had matured from the start of the season.

            While the Eagles didn't defeat the Golden Knights, they continued to show vast improvement.  Against Gannon, the Eagles won the final three bouts of the evening to gain a draw.

            AU trailed, 15-6 heading into the matchup at 184 pounds.  Senior Brandon Kelly (Fort Myers, Fla./Newberry), who sat out the Wendy's Classic Duals, returned to the mat with a 3-1 win over Christopher Boyd. That brought the Eagles to within 15-9.

            Freshman Corby Running (Wilmington, Ohio/Clinton Massie) shaved the margin to 15-12 with a 7-2 triumph over Richard Russell at 197.  Junior Jacob Southwick (Bowling Green, Ohio/Otsego) got the Eagles back to even with a 4-0 win over James Martz at 285 pounds.  Southwick is 21-2.

            The tie gives the Eagles a 7-2-1 record in duals this season.

            Ashland will be back on the mats on Friday (Jan. 21) when it hosts Lake Erie.

Ashland 15, Gannon 15

125 – Mandara (AU dec. Matos (GU), 3-2                            3-0, AU

133 – Fleming (GU) dec. Meyer (AU), 2-0                            3-3

141 – Milanak (GU) dec. Kanaga (AU), 3-2                          6-3, GU

149 – Swope (GU) dec. Genetin (AU), 4-3                           9-3, GU

157 – Hoff (AU) dec. Brehm (GU), 4-2                                9-6, GU

165 – McKendree (GU) dec.  Piatt (AU), 12-6                      12-6, GU

174 -  Pentrello (GU) dec. Thatcher (AU), 3-2                       15-6, GU

184 – Kelly (AU) dec. Boyd (GU), 3-1                                 15-9, GU

197 – Running (AU) dec. Russell (GU), 7-2                          15-12, GU

285 – Southwick (AU) dec. Martz (GU), 4-0                        15-15

AU

WREST/ALK