Mizer Leads 10 Placers at ONU Invitational

The nationally ranked Heidelberg College wrestling team had 10 placers at the 28th annual Ohio Northern Invitational hosted by Ohio Northern University in the ONU Sports Center in Ada, Ohio.
 
Leading the way was junior Zach Mizer (Canton, Ohio / Perry). Mizer is ranked fifth in the nation at 157 pounds, and was seeded second in the field. He finished second to top-seeded and no. 2 ranked Jason Brew of Olivet College by a 7-0 decision. En route to the championship match Mizer opened the day pinning Cumberland’s Adam Myers in 1:36, and added a 15-3 major decision over Campbellsville’s Josh Ashbrook, along with two decisions to finish at 4-1.
 
Finishing in sixth place was newcomer Tom D’Alessandro (Mayfield, Ohio / Mayfield Heights) at 133 pounds, sophomore Brad Rice (West Jefferson, Ohio / West Jefferson) at 197 pounds and heavyweight senior Tony Carothers (Bloomingdale, Ohio / Harrison Central).
 
D’Alessandro finished at 4-2 on the day, picking up an 18-1 technical fall over Josh Mollica of Wilmington and a 13-5 major decision over Heidelberg’s Jacob Weisman (Bexley, Ohio / Bexley).
 
In the 197 pound weight class, Rice posted a 4-2 record, which was highlighted by a 15-0 technical fall over Neal Renna (Lockport, Ill. / Lockport) and a fall in 2:20 over Jaron Singley of Cumberland.
 
Carothers closed out the day at 285 pounds with a 4-2 record as well. He opened the day with back-to-back falls, both of which came within the first 40 seconds of the match.
 
Taking home a seventh place finish was Sam Delpra (Chesterland, Ohio / West Geauga) at 149 pounds. Delpra worked his way a place in the final standings with an 11-2 major decision over Ricky Starr of Cumberland and a fall in 6:03 against Odis Wesby of Campbellsville. On the day Delpra was 5-2.
 
Posting a 5-2 record at 141 pounds and taking home eighth-place was Andrew Dinda (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights). Dinda fell in his first match, but bounced back with three-straight major decisions and a decision to earn a spot on the seventh-place match, which he won by medical forfeit.
 
Freshman Ryan Thomas (Novi, Mich. / Novi) posted a 5-2 record at 157 pounds and finished eighth on the day. Thomas picked up two falls, pinning Wabash’s Justin Michaels in 57 seconds and Campbellsville’s Josh Ashbrook in 6:48.
 
Finishing the day with 3-3 records and eighth place finishes was Jerrad Hoxie (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Northern) at 125 pounds, Weisman at 133 pounds and 174 pounder Dayne Williams (Tiffin, Ohio / Columbian). Hoxie and Williams each had a fall, while Weisman recorded a major decision.