The Case Western Reserve University wrestling team earned a pair of dual wins at the University Athletic Association vs. Ohio Athletic Association Challenge held at the Veale Center in Cleveland on Saturday. The Spartans bested the University of Mount Union 22-21, fell to 21st-ranked Ohio Northern University 26-15, and defeated Heidelberg University 33-16.
The Spartans improved to 3-1 in dual meets this season, while the Purple Raiders fell to 4-8, the Polar Bears improved to 7-6, and the Student Princes dropped to 5-9.
Other UAA schools in action at the meet included the 23rd-ranked University of Chicago Maroons and the 14th-ranked New York University Violets. NYU went 3-0, defeating all three OAC foes, and Chicago went 2-1, defeating Heidelberg and Mount Union but losing to Ohio Northern.
CWRU 22, Mount Union 21
Following a loss by technical fall to start the match, sophomore Jacob Gregg cut the team's deficit to two with an 8-1 decision at 133 pounds. Sophomore Art Martinez followed with a pin in 1:55 over Mason McCarty at 141 pounds, giving the Spartans a 9-5 advantage in the dual.
After a Purple Raider major decision tied the match score at nine, sophomore Marty Landes gave Case Western Reserve a three-point lead with a 4-2 decision at 157 pounds. Graduate student Mitchell Arch secured his team-leading 14th pin of the season at 165 pounds, defeating Jake Starkey in 40 seconds, to make the score 18-9. Mount Union responded with back-to-back decisions, cutting the team's deficit to three, but a major decision by graduate student Stephen Andryc secured the win for CWRU.
#21 Ohio Northern 26, CWRU 15
After the Polar Bears started the dual with a pair of wins to lead 7-0, Martinez earned his second fall of the day to make the score 7-6. He defeated Gabe Hansen in 2:29 for his sixth pin of the campaign. Junior Calvin Cai put the hosts ahead with a 5-3 decision at 149 pounds, but a decision in favor of ONU gave the Polar Bears a 10-9 lead.
Arch followed with his second pin of the day, putting the Spartans ahead 15-10. Arch bested Kael Margraf in 4:47 for his 15th pin in 2023-24 and the 72nd of his career. However, Ohio Northern won the final four matches of the dual to earn the win.
CWRU 33, Heidelberg 16
Sophomore E.J. Alizio opened the final match of the day with a technical fall, 16-1, at 125 pounds over Brenden Yob. It was his second technical fall of the season. Gregg followed with a pin in 1:35 over David Gelman, his third win by fall of the campaign, and Martinez added a major decision to make the score 15-0. A technical fall by Cai at 149 pounds, his third of the season, put the Spartans ahead 20-0.
The Student Princes earned a major decision at 157 pounds for their first score of the dual. Arch then won his third match of the day by pin, defeating Anthony Grecol in 1:34. A win by fall at 174 kept Heidelberg in the match, but consecutive wins by Andryc and first-year Mathew Gummere sealed the win for CWRU.
In extra matches during the day, sophomore Thomas Wagner and first-year Mike Valerino each picked up a win by fall, while first-year Louka Babic earned a pair of pins.
The Spartans will remain home for the second consecutive week, hosting the Claude Sharer Duals next Saturday inside the Veale Center. Action is slated to begin at 11 a.m. with CWRU taking on Otterbein, Washington & Jefferson, and Mount St. Joseph.
