Photo Courtesy of Senior Director of Public Relations Randy Sarvis
(WILMINGTON, Ohio) – For the first time since Tuesday, January 5, 2010 (a 25-22 win at Baldwin Wallace University), the Wilmington College wrestling team won a dual match. They defeated the Muskingum University Fighting Muskies Tuesday night on Hermann Court, 27-26, in a dual that went down to the fourth point of criteria, Most NON Pin, Def, ID, DQ, Near Fall Points.
It began with an exhibition match where Quakers heavyweight Tim Lewellen pinned Muskingum's Dakota Tennant in just under a minute.
The 125-and 133-pound weight classes were forfeited by the Quakers to give Muskingum a 12-0 advantage. Freshman Michael Louison got the Quakers on the board with a 14-2 major decision win over the Muskies Hunter Heck for his first collegiate victory, which cut the lead down to 12-4.
The Muskies won by major decision at 149 and 157 pounds to push the score to 20-4. Freshman Cooper Rack then got the Quakers back in the dual with a pin at 165 pounds, giving him his first collegiate victory and bringing the score to 20-10.
Muskingum won by fall at 174 to push the score to 26-10. Muskie forfeits at 184 and 197 pounds made it 26-22, with the dual coming down to the heavyweight showdown between Wilmington's Caleb Tackett and Muskingum's Noah Dehainaut.
Tackett picked up his first point in the second period and the 1-0 score held going into the final two minutes of action. Tackett got Dehainaut on his back and nearly pinned him but settled with three takedown points and four near fall points for an 8-0 win.
However, this was a major decision to tie the score at 26-26. Who was the winner? We would soon find out as madness ensued around the scorer's table. The Muskingum head coach broke out his rule book to make sure everyone was on the same page with the criteria rules.
Most individual match wins, Muskingum 5, Wilmington 5. Most pins, defaults, forfeits, DQs, Muskingum 3, Wilmington 3. Most non pin, default, injury default, DQ match points…Muskingum 33, Wilmington 33. Finally, the Quakers had more non pin, default, injury default, DQ near fall points which declared them the winner. It was a great scene to watch the Quakers wrestlers celebrate their first collegiate victory.
What's Up Next
With this win, Quakers head coach Chris Basford earned his first dual victory at Wilmington College. The Quakers are 1-0 in duals this season and will be back in action at the Findlay Open Saturday in Findlay, Ohio.
