PAINESVILLE, Ohio – Lake Erie won the last three matches to overcome a three-point deficit and defeated Gannon 25-16 Wednesday night in a non-conference wrestling match.
Starting at 174 pounds, Lake Erie opened a quick 6-0 lead with a pair of decisions.
Chris Boyd (Chase City, Va./Randolph Henry) answered at 197 with a pin of Mike Samijlenko in three minutes flat. Ranked fourth in the NCAA Division II Super Region One, Boyd improved to 2-1 while knotting the match at six.
The see-saw affair then went back-and-forth over the next four bouts. Lake Erie moved back ahead 10-6 with a major decision at heavyweight, but
Matt Turek (Madison, Ohio/Madison) came right back with an 11-3 major decision over Ian Ross to tie the match again at 10. The third-ranked 125-pound wrestler in NCAA Division II Super Region One improved to 18-5 overall and 4-0 in dual meets with his fourth consecutive win. The last three have all come via a major decision.
As was the norm during Wednesday's match, the upper hand went back the other way during the next bout at 133. Lake Erie's upset victory against
Jose Matos (Egg Harbor City, N.J./St. Augustine College Preparatory School) helped the Storm regain the lead at 16-12. Matos entered the match ranked second in the region and seventh nationally, but dropped to 6-2 overall while suffering his first dual setback in four matches.
Gannon roared back again as
Adam Weinell (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville) picked up the team with a big pin of Thomas McVicker at 141. The redshirt sophomore put McVicker on his back 4:55 into the affair, giving the Golden Knights six critical points and regaining the lead at 16-13. The victory was Weinell's first dual win of the season and fourth pin of the campaign.
The point swings didn't end there. Lake Erie responded with a 12-7 victory at 149 to draw even at 16 with two matches remaining. That's when the Golden Knights ran into a pair of nationally-ranked wrestlers. Fifth-ranked Zach Vargo recorded a pin at 157 and second-ranked Matt Vandermeer added a decision at 165 to close out a 25-16 Storm victory.
Gannon dropped to 1-3 with its third consecutive dual loss. Lake Erie, which was among others receiving votes in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) national rankings, picked up its school-record ninth dual win to improve to 9-3. The Golden Knights return to action Saturday, January 26 against 16th-ranked Ashland at the Hammermill Center. The dual meet is scheduled for 4 p.m.
