Wrestling breaks record with fourth straight OAC title

Autumn Richards, Staff Writer|February 15, 2019

The Yellow Jackets made history Feb. 8 in winning their fourth straight OAC championship. Among the wins during the record-setting title were seniors Zeckary Lehman, Anthony Arroyo, James Ritchie and Justin Ransom. The team defeated Ohio Northern 46-6.

The Baldwin Wallace wrestling team, ranked No. 5 nationally, won their fourth straight Ohio Athletic Conference championship on Feb. 8, setting the school record for most consecutive OAC-championships.

The Yellow Jackets (14-2, 5-1 OAC) defeated Ohio Northern (6-9, 1-5 OAC), 46-6 in the last regular season match held inside Ursprung Gymnasium to clinch their record-setting title.

The wrestling program had previously won three straight OAC titles between 1971-73 and 2015-18.

Sophomore 141-pounder Dalton Leightner got the first win of day right before sophomore All-OAC and nationally ranked fifth 149-pounder Stanley Bleich won by major decision.

All-OAC 157-pound senior Richie Burke continued to add to the victory with a pin inside 45 seconds.

Two-time All-American senior Anthony Arroyo tacked on another win at the 165-pound weight class, for which he is also currently ranked fifth nationally.

This win marks an undefeated 22-0 record for Arroyo through his four-year OAC career for the Yellow Jackets.

Senior All-OAC 184-pounder Justin Ransom and senior Academic All-OAC 285-pounder James Ritchie wrapped up the match with victories, resulting in a 46-6 win for Baldwin Wallace as they claimed top spot in the OAC.

During the previous week, the BW wrestlers competed in the 33^rd John Summa Tournament held in Lou Higgins Center Fieldhouse.

BW placed fifth of 15 teams with 71 points. Junior Academic All-OAC 125 pounder Nicholas Berry finished in second place.

In addition, junior 141-pounder Aaron Kelly and senior two-time All-OAC 197-pounder Zeckary Lehman both placed third, junior Academic All-OAC 149-pounder Nick Sbrocco placed fifth, and freshman 285-pounder Parker Meaney finished seventh.

BW placed fifth of 15 teams with 71 points. Junior Academic All-OAC 125 pounder Nicholas Berry finished in second place.

The Yellow Jackets will hit the mats again on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22-23 at 10 a.m. when they travel to Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, to defend their NCAA Division III Central Regional Championship.