ADA, Ohio—Sophomore 141-pounder Chris Osborne (McComb) and senior heavyweight Jerry Knapp (Clinton Township/De La Salle) each posted 3-2 records and advanced to the fourth round of the consolation bracket today to lead the Heidelberg University wrestling team to a 14th-place finish at the Ohio Northern University Invitational in Ada, Ohio.
Osborne took a pair of decisions and a pin, while Knapp, despite losing a first-round match, rallied to win three consecutive bouts and recorded a pin.
Osborne defeated Ryan McKenzie of cross-town foe Tiffin University, 2-1, but was edged by Clarence Longley (Ashland University), 6-4, in his second match. In the consolation bracket, Osborne pinned Tevin Byers (The College of Mount St. Joseph) in 4:11 and took down Chad Channle (University of Findlay), 6-3. In the fourth round of the consolation bracket, Osborne was pinned by Sean Byham (Thiel (Pa.) College).
Knapp was edged, 3-1, in overtime by Logan Renas (Olivet (Mich.) College), but took two straight decisions—7-0 over Luke Gaskins (ONU) and 2-1 over Brandon Fedorka (Waynesburg (Pa.) College)—before moving on to the third round of the consolation bracket, where he pinned Bobby Grogan (MSJ) in 5:00. Knapp suffered a pin by Mike Carpenter (West Liberty (W.Va.) University), ending his day.
“Although, I think, we were inconsistent today and beat ourselves in some matches, I am optimistic about the future because we are willing to put in the work to make the changes we need to make,” said first-year head coach Ned Shuck.
Junior 149-pounder Andrew Johnson (Weston/Ostego), sophomore 174-pounder Jeremy Stepp (Cincinnati/Princeton) and freshman heavyweight Tyler Smith (Calhoun/Sonoraville) each won a pair of matches, while senior 133-pounder Tom D’Alessandro (Mayfield/Mayfield Heights), sophomore 149-pounder Ian Gillespie (Cincinnati/Elder) and sophomore 157-pounder Justin Wharton (Oregon/Clay) also posted victories.
The Berg returns to the mat Tuesday, Dec. 6 with a dual match against Division II foe Ashland at 7 p.m.
