(WILMINGTON, Ohio) – In front of an animated crowd Thursday night in Hermann Court, the Wilmington College wrestling team returned home for the first time since defeating Muskingum University on November 14th. The Quakers delivered an inspired performance despite forfeiting several weights, but dropped the dual to Thomas More University, 43-4. This drops the team to 1-5 in dual action this season, as they will be back on the mats at Hermann Court Saturday evening against John Carroll University.
The 125-pound weight class saw a double forfeit, before the Saints took a 12-0 lead after Quaker forfeits at 133 and 141 pounds.
The first match of the night was contested at 149 pounds between Thomas More's Taijon Span and Wilmington's Rylan Hurst. The first period was all Span as he jumped out to a 10-1 lead heading into the second period. Hurst made a furious comeback in the second, using a reversal, penalty point, and four-point near fall to make the score 10-8 heading into the final two minutes of action. Hurst took the lead early in the period after a takedown made it 11-10, but Span countered with an escape to tie it and a takedown to win the match 14-11.
A fall at 157 pushed the score to 21-0 in favor of Thomas More heading to the 165-pound weight class. It pitted the Saints Ryan Draughn against Wilmington's Garrett Simmons. An early takedown by Draughn was reversed by Simmons into a four-point near fall to give him a 6-3 lead after the first period. Simmons picked up another four points in the second without allowing a point to take a 10-3 lead into the final period. The last two minutes saw a takedown and two-point near fall nearly allow Simmons to pick up the tech. fall, but he would settle for a 16-5 major decision to make the team score 21-4. This was Simmons second win of the season and first win by major decision.
A major decision followed for Thomas More at 174 pounds, before forfeits at 184 and 197 took us to the heavyweights with the Saints holding a 37-4 lead.
Andrew Thompson made his Quakers debut against Israel Tshiunza of Thomas More. It was a hectic first period as Thompson recorded three takedowns and picked up a penalty point to take a 10-8 lead into the second period. The action died down in the second, but Thompson had an early takedown for a 13-8 lead. However, an escape and takedown led to a Tshiunza pin at 4:32 to conclude an entertaining bout.
What's Up Next
The Quakers will contest their final home dual of the season Saturday evening against the John Carroll University Blue Streaks at 6:00 P.M.
