Wrestling

BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College wrestling team fiunished second today (Saturday, February 17, 2007) at the 2007 Ohio Athletic Conference Wrestling Championship Tournament at Heidelberg College in the Seiberling Gymnasium in Tiffin.

Heidelberg won its second straight OAC team title with 86.5 points and the Yellow Jackets, wrestling at full strenght, fininshed second with 73.5 points. John Carroll University ws third with 69 points and was followed by Ohio Northern University in fourth with 58.5 points, Mount Union College in fifth with 35.5 points, Wilmington College in sixth with 27 points and Muskingum College in seveth with 2.5 points.

Highlighting the tourney for the 26th-ranked Yellow Jackets (Division III National Wrestling Coaches Association February 12 poll), who finished their dual match season at 12-10 overall and 4-2 in the OAC, were junior 165-pounder Gino Russo (Northfield Center/Nordonia), sophomore 197-pounder Paul Burger (Mentor) and senior 285-pounder Bryan Kmetz (Brunswick) who won their weight classes.

Russo won his title with a perfect 2-0 record. He received a first round bye as the top seed and then defeated Ohio Northern's Jay Salge, 7-4, in the semifinals and then defeated David Daugherty from Wilmington, 5-3, in the title match.

Burger won his title with a perfect 3-0 record as he he defeated Collin Swick from ONU by forfeit in his first match, then pinned matt Harmon from JCU in 2:37 in the semifinals and then defeated Ryan Fogliano from Heidleberg, 5-4 in the championship match.

Kmetz won his title with a perfect 2-0 record with two pins. He received a first round by as the top seed and then pinned ONU's Adam Kosch in 1:36 in the semifinals and then pinned Heidelberg's Ryan Bowers in 54 seconds in the title match.

In addition to Russo, Burger and Kmetz, senior 133-pounder Jared Selover (Wapakoneta) and sophomore 149-pounder Mohamad Salem (Westlake) placed second and junior 141-pounder Chris Hamad (Stow/Woodridge) placed third.

By virtue of winning OAC titles, Russo, Burger and Kmetz now qualify for the 2007 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa on March 2-3. A year ago, Kmetz competed at the national tourney and had a 1-2 record.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. To contact Head Coach Rich Fleming, pleace call him in the office at 440-826-3258 or you can reach him via e-mail at rfleming@bw.edu.

2007 Ohio Athletic Conference Wrestling Championship Aggate
on 2/17/2007; at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio

FINAL TEAM SCORES: 1. Heidelberg College, 86.5; 2. Baldwin-Wallace College, 73.5; 3. John Carroll University, 69.0; 4. Ohio Northern University, 58.5; 5. Mount Union College, 35.5; 6. Wilmington College, 27.0; 7. Muskingum College, 2.5.

Championship Matches: 125 Pounds: David Penny (ONU) major decision over Elie Naoum (JCU), 9-1; 133 Pounds: Adam Pizzurro defeated Jared Selover (B-W), 5-3 SV; 141 Pounds: Nick Sanchez (HC) maj. dec. Dominic Spitalieri (JCU), 13-0; 149 Pounds: Joe Pflug (HC) maj. dec. Mohamad Salem (B-W), 13-5; 157 Pounds: Anthony Coleman (ONU) def. Dan Mizener (JCU), 8-4; 165 Pounds: Gino Russo (B-W) def. David Daugherty (WC), 5-3; 174 Pounds: Benjamin Plowman (ONU) def. Nick Allerding (MUC), 3-1; 184 Pounds: Ryan Summer (JCU) def. Kyle Rooney (HC), 5-0; 197 Pounds: Paul Burger (B-W) def. Ryan Fogilano (HC), 5-4; 285 Pounds: Bryan Kmetz (B-W)pinned Ryan Bowers (HC), 0:54.