Wrestling breaks record with fourth straight OAC title
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 33rd 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.
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.
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