No. 12 Wrestling clinches share of OAC Regular Season title with 38-6 victory over Muskingum

By Darren Miller

ADA − The No. 12-ranked Ohio Northern wrestling team defeated Muskingum 38-6 Tuesday evening on Senior Night at the ONU Sports Center to earn at least a share of the OAC Regular Season title.

In the last home dual for four Polar Bear wrestlers Lou Piszker, Joe Fisher, Nick Hoopes, Mick Letcher, and Billy Painter, the Polar Bears dominated the action winning nine of ten matches.

Ohio Northern improves to 11-4 overall and 4-0 in the OAC, while Muskingum drops to 2-8 overall, 1-3 in conference duals.

The Polar Bears were handed a 12-0 lead with forfeits in the 125 and 133 weight classes to begin the evening.

Freshman Nick Pataro (141 pounds) extended Ohio Northern's lead to 15-0 with a 5-3 decision.

Freshman Brandon Howes overcame a 7-1 deficit to win a 9-7 decision at 149 pounds, giving the Polar Bears an 18-0 lead.

A 2:14 pin by senior Billy Painter at 165 grew the Polar Bear lead to 24-6 with four matches remaining.

Junior two-time All-American Kyle Kwait dominated his match, winning 17-0 in 2:53, to earn
his 13th technical fall of the season. The No. 3-ranked wrestler extends his record to 32-1
on the year.

Freshman Dennis Recknagel (184) won a 7-6 decision, sophomore Michael Pawlitz (197) won a 13-6 decision, and freshman Cody Lovejoy (285) won a 2-0 decision to round out the night for Ohio Northern.

The only points scored by Muskingum on the night were on a forfeit in the 157-pound weight class.

The Polar Bears wrap up their regular season at Heidelberg on Friday. A victory would clinch
an outright OAC Regular Season title for the Bears, their second in three years and their fifth overall.

No. 12 Ohio Northern 38, Muskingum 6

125- Nathan Grieser (ONU) wins by forfeit
133- Alex Donoho (ONU) wins by forfeit
141- Nick Pataro (ONU) dec. Brock Yackey (MU), 5-3
149- Brandon Howes (ONU) dec. Kenneth Poland (MU), 9-7
157- Michael Frasure (MU) wins by forfeit
165- Billy Painter (ONU) pinned Ronald Hepner (MU), 2:14
174- Kyle Kwait (ONU) tech. fall Mitchell King (MU), 2:53, 17-0
184- Dennis Recknagel (ONU) dec. Tre Martin (MU), 7-6
197- Michael Pawlitz (ONU) dec. Lucas Weber (MU), 13-6
285- Cody Lovejoy (ONU) dec. Brian Barnhart Jr. (MU), 2-0
Exhibition 285- Joseph Fisher (ONU) pinned David Rice (MU), 2:08