Wrestling Drops Season Finale at Ohio

ATHENS, Ohio— Any hopes of a third place conference finish were extinguished here Friday, Feb. 20, as the Eastern Michigan University wrestling team dropped a 21-13 decision to Ohio University in the regular season finale. With the loss, the Eagles finish the season 7-11 overall with a 1-4 record in Mid-American Conference matches.

The Bobcats improved to 9-8-1 overall and 3-1 in the MAC with one dual remaining.

The Eagles jumped out to an early 9-0 lead with a trio of decisions, which started off with senior John McClure (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa) in the 197 lb. bout. McClure fought back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period thanks to an escape and a stalling point to send the match into overtime. In the extra frame, McClure secured an opening round victory with a two-point takedown to make the final score 5-3.

Redshirt sophomore David Wade (Beavercreek, Ohio-Beavercreek) made it two wins in-a-row for the visitors when he knocked-off Justin Powell in the heavyweight bout, 5-2. Wade started the scoring with a takedown in the first period and held that lead through the duration of the match. An escape in the second period and takedown in the third accounted for the remainder of his points.

At 125, redshirt junior Chris Jenkins (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) provided the Eagles with a third consecutive victory with a 9-5 decision over Tim Silvers. Down 2-0, Jenkins used an escape, takedown and three near-fall points to attain a 5-2 lead after three minutes of play. Three points by Silvers in the closing period brought him to within two, 7-5, but Jenkins notched a final point as well as riding time to hold on for the win.

The Bobcats then ended the Eagle's early winning streak with two decisions of their own at 133 and 141. Quentin Keyes used overtime to take a 4-2 win over redshirt junior Sean Clair (Turtlecreek, Pa.-Plum) at 133, while Germane Lindsey squeaked-out a 7-6 decision over redshirt junior David Pienaar (Trafford, Pa.-Greensburg Central Catholic) in the 141 lb. bout.

With the score 9-6 for EMU, redshirt freshman J.J. Johnson (Rockford, Mich.-Rockford) put his team back on board with a 5-3 decision in the third and final overtime match of the day. A 3-3 score after regulation sent the 141 lb. match into extra time, where Johnson answered the call with a takedown to claim the victory. The Eagles were up by six, 12-6.

The final dual of the season then turned sour for the Green and White, as the Bobcats rattled-off four consecutive wins to close out the match. Clay Tucker bested senior Josh Moulton (Grass Lake, Mich.-Napoleon) at 157, 7-4. A four point surge by Moulton in the final two minutes was not enough to overcome his opponent, who was already ahead, 4-0, after two periods.

Ohio took their first lead of the dual when Tom Weinkam blanked redshirt sophomore Nick Hendrick (Coulmbiaville, Mich.-Powers Catholic), 8-0, at 165. That major decision would be followed-up by Nick Purdue, who tallied another four team points against senior Don Funk (Jonesville, Mich.-Jonesville) with a 13-1 major decision.

The Eagles trailed 17-12 heading into the final match (184), where redshirt freshman Tommy St. Louis (Neosho, Mo.-Neosho) proved to be powerless in a 13-1 setback at the hands of Erik Schuth. The third consecutive major decision made the final score 21-12 for the Bobcats.

The Eagles will now prepare for the MAC Championships, which will take place Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8, at the Convocation Center. EMU will look for its first conference title since the 1995-96 campaign.

OHIO 21, EMU 12

197: John McClure (EMU) dec. Christopher Iammarino (OU), 3-5 (OT) EMU 3, OU 0

HWT: David Wade (EMU) dec. Justin Powell (OU), 5-2 EMU 6, OU 0

125: Christopher Jenkins (EMU) dec. Tim Silvers (OU), 9-5 EMU 9, OU 0

133: Quentin Keyes (OU) dec. Sean Clair (EMU), 4-2 (OT) EMU 9, OU 3

141: Germane Lindsey (OU) dec. David Pienaar (EMU), 7-6 EMU 9, OU 3

149: J.J. Johnson (EMU) dec. Seth Morton (OU), 5-3 (OT) EMU 12, OU 6

157: Clay Tucker (OU) dec. Josh Moulton (EMU), 7-4 EMU 12, OU 9

165: Tom Weinkam (OU) maj. dec. Nick Hendrick (EMU), 8-0 OU 13, EMU 12

174: Nick Purdue (OU) maj. dec. Don Funk (EMU), 13-1 OU 17, EMU 12

184: Erik Schuth (OU) maj. dec. Tommy St. Louis (EMU), 13-1 OU 21, EMU 12

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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