Ashland University's wrestling team earned a victory over Urbana on Wednesday (Jan. 23) night at Kates Gymnasium, in a one-sided dual that ended with the No. 17 Eagles on top, 45-0.
Ashland won all 10 matches, two coming by forfeit.
"They were moving well, they just looked good," said Ashland head wrestling coach Josh Hutchens. "Individually, Dan Morell had a great match. He stepped up a weight class to 133 and came away with the last-second win."
Morell, a senior, trailed late in his match by two points. He scored in the closing seconds with a takedown to earn the 5-4 decision.
"He stepped up the most of anybody on the team," said Hutchens.
Redshirt junior Christian Price did something that isn't seen every day in his victory at 174 pounds. He recorded 10 takedowns in the first period, eventually winning by tech fall, 26-10.
"He's been struggling finishing his shots lately, so he said he was going to shoot as many shots as he could," said Hutchens. "He took a lot."
Redshirt junior Chandler Minnard was clinical in his 13-0 decision at 141 pounds, showing why he's No. 4 in the nation in his weight class.
Five other Eagles earned wins on the night. Sophomore Carson Speelman won by major decision at 149 pounds, and sophomore Cody Woods earned the win in a tight match at 157, a 4-0 decision.
Redshirt sophomore Eric Fasnacht didn't leave any doubt in his 18-1 win by tech fall at 165 pounds. Freshman Daniel Beemer got a late pin at 6:06 at 184 pounds, and redshirt freshman Peter Abraham won a 5-0 decision at 197 to close things out for Ashland.
"The big thing we've been talking about in practice is more moving on our feet, and a lot more energy going into the third period, so that's what we wanted to see," said Hutchens. "We wanted to keep that pace, and keep that movement through the whole match, and pretty much everybody did."
In their last home dual of the year, the Eagles will welcome Findlay to Kates Gymnasium on Saturday (Jan. 26) at 7 p.m.
Translating recent success and practices will be key for Ashland's grapplers to be successful in their next dual.
"I think it's just them believing, and saying I know I can keep this pace up for seven minutes," said Hutchens. "In practice we do it for an hour. Sometimes in a match, your mind says I'm not sure I can do this for seven minutes, so you start holding back.
"We want to see them open up the whole time out here and say you can do it, now do it again."
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