ADA, Ohio – The Alma College men's wrestling team traveled down the #13 Ohio Northern University to take part in the 43rd annual Ohio Northern Invitational on Saturday, December 7th. The Scots had five wrestlers place in their respective weight classes for the tournament.
Alma's best finisher came in the 125 division as Jushawn Ferrel Jr finished fourth overall. Ferrel Jr received a bye to start the day before facing his first opponent, Brandon Dami from Washington & Jefferson University, where he was victorious by decision, with a final score of 12-8. Ferrel Jr then took part in the quarterfinals match against Caden Crawfrod of Tiffin University, where again Ferrel Jr came out on top by technical fall, 19-4, setting him up for a bout in the semifinals. In the Semi's, Ferrel Jr hung close but was ultimately defeated by Colin Mellott from No. 13 Ohio Northern, falling by major decision, 9-0. Picking up in the consolation bracket, wrestling in the semi-finals again, Ferrel Jr rebounded with a win over Candio Deluna from Tiffin University by decision, 4-1, advancing himself to the 3rd place match. In his final match of the day, Ferrel Jr would again hang tight throughout the match, though he would drop the match to Cael Woods of Tiffin by a final score of 4-1, leaving him in fourth for the tournament.
In the next division, Colton Kennedy placed eighth overall for the 133 class. Kennedy also started his tournament with a bye before competing in his first match against Jorden Zigo from Mount St. Joseph University. Kennedy would lose his first match by decision, 12-5, send him to the consolation bracket early on. After another bye, Kennedy claimed his first win of the day against Eric Saddler of Otterbein University by decision, 8-4, advancing along. Kennedy again picked up another victory in his next match, this time by technical fall over Joshua Smith from Washington & Jefferson, by a score of 18-3. Following the victory over Smith, Kennedy was forced into a rematch with Zigo from his first match of the day. Zigo came away victorious for the second time around, defeating Kennedy by major decision, 13-2. Wrestling in the 7th place match, Kennedy would match up against Chase Dickerson of Tiffin, but would drop his final match of the day be decision, 7-2, placing him in eighth.
Placing sixth overall in the 165 weight division, Rodrick Love saw a solid showing that included three victories on the day. After receiving a bye, Love faced his first opponent of the day, AJ Tomaino from Waynesburg University. Love was able to come away on top as he collected a win by fall in 1:44. Love then faced off against Kyan Larson from The University of Olivet, where he was defeated by decision, with a score of 14-8. Love bounced back swiftly as his next match he collected another by fall, this time over Jonathan Rosas of Tiffin, in 3:51 time. Tacking on another victory, Love was able to score a win by technical fall over Jiovannu DeChicchis from Washington & Jefferson, by a score of 21-2. In the consolation semi-finals, Love faced off against Roger Deck from Mount St. Joseph, where Deck would come out on top by major decision, 16-2, over Love. After placing himself into the fifth-place match, Love lined up against Kyan Larson for a rematch from earlier in the tournament, but Love would not end up rewriting the story as Larson would snag his second victory over Love in a close match by decision, 5-1.
Wrestling in the 184 weight, Luke Martin finished in seventh-place for the tournament. Martin opened his tournament with a bye before matching up against Brady Walsh from Ohio Wesleyan University. Martin came away victorious by fall in a time of 6:04, advancing him along. In the quarterfinal match, Martin took the mat against Jessie Orbin of Waynesburg, dropping his first match of the day by decision, 11-4. Rebounding shortly after, Martin faced off against Caiden Hooks of Otterbein, where he came away with a win by decision, 11-4. In his next match of the day, Martin lined up against Carson Steinmatz of Tiffin, where he would drop his second match of the day, this one by decision. 11-4. In his final match of the day, wrestling for the seventh-place spot, Martin was able to pin Desmon Perry from Ohio Wesleyan in 3:39, and finish his day in seventh-place overall.
The final Scots wrestler to place for the tournament was Matthew Johnson, who placed seventh in the 285 division. Johnson was defeated in his first match of the day by Myles Johnson of Ohio Northern by technical fall, 19-4. Following the loss, Johnson received a bye before taking the mat against Sergio Pacheco Ortiz of Mount St. Joseph, where Johnson scored a victory by fall in 1:57. Johnson then continued along with another victory by fall, over Michael Hopson from Hiram College, this time in 1:13. Johnson would then score a victory by technical fall over Jadon Brownlee, wrestling for Ohio Northern, by a final match score of 18-3. Johnson would then drop his second match of the day to Boe Eckman from The University of Olivet. By technical fall 17-0. Johnson was then awarded seventh-place for the tournament as a medical forfeit from his competitor rounded out his day.
The Scots will now have a week to prepare before traveling back to Ohio to compete in the Kalahari Duals, hosted by Heidelberg University. Matches are set to begin at 9:00 am on Saturday, December 14th.
