Case Western Reserve University Head Wrestling Coach David Shapiro earned his first career dual win as the Spartan wrestling team defeated Heidelberg University 32-15 in the team's first dual of the season at Seiberling Gymnasium in Tiffin, Ohio, on Friday night.
The Spartans began the dual portion of their schedule with a record of 1-0, while the Student Princes fell to 3-4 overall.
CWRU started the dual with a pair of pins, earning six points at 125 pounds as sophomore E.J. Alizio defeated Brenden Yob in 5:47 and at 133 pounds as first-year Mike Valerino recorded a fall against David Gelman in 4:37. It was Alizio's fifth pin of the season and the 11th of his career, and Valerino earned his eighth win by fall of the season.
While sophomore Art Martinez did not record a pin in the next match at 141 pounds, he did win by technical fall, 24-8, over Drew Miller to increase the Spartan advantage to 17-0. Martinez, who entered the dual ranked third in the region, secured his team-leading sixth technical fall of the season and the ninth of his career. Junior Calvin Cai followed with a 15-1 major decision over Ryan Lundy at 149 pounds, giving the visitors a 21-0 lead through four matches.
The hosts first scored in the dual at 157 pounds, when Travis Richardson, ranked sixth in the region, secured a pin in 4:13. The Student Princes added three more points with a decision at 165 pounds, making the score 21-9 in favor of CWRU.
At 174 pounds, first-year Simon Bishop won a 5-3 decision over Owen Frizzell, the fifth ranked wrestler in the region. After earning a point via penalty in the first period, Bishop retained the top position throughout the second period, preventing an escape point and gaining two minutes of riding time. He started the third period with an escape but found himself trailing 3-2 after a takedown by Frizzell. A two-point reversal put the Spartan wrestler ahead, and the point of riding time gave Bishop a two-point win.
Needing just one win over the final three matches to secure the dual, first-year Mathew Gummere earned a dramatic decision at 184 pounds to clinch the victory. With the score tied at 1 and less than a minute remaining in the final period, Gummere recorded a three-point takedown to lead 4-1. Despite a last-second escape by TJ Rhamy, he held on for the 4-2 victory, clinching the match for the Spartans. Gummere's win was his 14th of the season, tying him for the team lead with graduate student Mitchell Arch.
Junior Aidan Gassel, ranked third in the region, added five points to the Spartan total with a 17-2 technical fall over Aidan Belgiorno at 197 pounds. It was the first technical fall of his career, and the result made the score 32-9.
Heidelberg won the final match of the night by pin, resulting in a final score of 32-15.
The Spartans will take a break from intercollegiate competition until January 6, 2024, when the team hosts the University Athletic Association/Ohio Athletic Conference Challenge inside the Veale Center. CWRU is scheduled to face Mount Union at 11 a.m., Ohio Northern at 12:30 p.m., and Heidelberg at 2 p.m.
