EAGLES AND WILDCATS GRAPPLE TO 18-18 TIE

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)—The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team opened up a two match homestand Sunday, Nov. 22, with an 18-18 ti e against Big Ten Conference foe Northwestern University at Bowen Field House. The Eagles led 18-10 with two matches remaining, but the Wildcats picked-up a decision and tech fall in those bouts to pull even.

The tie brings the Eagles’ record to 2-2-1, while Northwestern goes to 1-2-1. The Green and White are unbeaten in their last three bouts.

The match began with the heavyweight bout, where senior David Wade (Beavercreek, Ohio-Beavercreek) shutout Ben Kuhar, 4-0. Following a scoreless opening two periods, Wade managed an escape early in the third frame to take a 1-0 lead. Wade added a late takedown plus riding ti me to take the match, 4-0.

With EMU leading 3-0, senior Chris Jenkins (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) squared-off against Bobby Joyce at 125 lbs. Jenkins took control early in the match with a takedown. Just seconds into the third period, Jenkins added an escape to go ahead, 3-0. An extra point for riding ti me gave Jenkins a 4-0 win and a 6-0 lead for the Eagles.

Senior Sean Clair (Turtlecreek, Pa.-Plum) then took on Eric Metzler at 133 lbs. The match remained scoreless unti l the second period, when Clair tallied an escape to go ahead, 1-0. Midway through the fi nal frame, however, Metzler turned the tables with a reverse to put Clair behind, 2-1. Metzler would hold on to win by that same score to pull the Wildcats back to within three, 6-3.

Thanks to a Northwestern forfeit in the 141 lbs. match, the Eagles gained six points to take a 12-3 lead. Sophomore Andrew Novak (New Boston, Mich.-New Boston) was credited with the win.

The Wildcats drew closer at 149 lbs., as Andrew Nadhir bested sophomore J.J. Johnson (Rockford, Mich.-Rockford), 4-2. Nadhir struck fi rst with a second period reversal. Moments aft er Johnson recorded an escape, Nadhir added a takedown for a 4-1 advantage aft er two frames. In the third period, Johnson started in the defensive positi on and managed an early escape to cut the defi cit to 4-2. Johnson would come no closer as the Wildcats inched to within six, 12-6.

The Eagles answered at 157 lbs., where freshman Aaron Sulzer (Cleveland, Ohio-Holy Name) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over Kevin Bialka with a fi rst period takedown. Sulzer conti nued to pour it on in the second period with fi ve points including three by way of near-fall to extend his lead to 7-0, which would prove to be the fi nal result. EMU went ahead, 15-6.

Sophomore Lester France (Flatrock, Mich.-Flatrock CC) got the call in the 165 lbs. bout against Robert Kellogg. The first frame featured a pair of takedowns by Kellogg and an escape by France for a 4-1 result after three minutes. Kellogg remained relentless through the rest of the match and earned a 16-6 major decision.

EMU’s lead was now down to five, 15-10.

Looking to rebound, senior Justi n Brandel (Saginaw, Mich.-Swan Valley) stepped onto the mat against Frank Battaglia at 174 lbs. Brandel used a takedown and an escape to take a 3-0 lead into the fi nal two minutes. In the third period, Brandel survived a late charge by Batt aglia to win the match, 5-1, and give the home team an 18-10 advantage overall.

At 184 lbs., junior Nick Hendrick (Columbiaville, Mich.-Powers Catholic) squared-off with Aaron Jones. Both grapplers batt led to a scoreless ti e unti l early in the third period, when Jones earned an escape point for to take a 1-0 lead.

Jones tallied a fi nal escape plus a point for riding ti me to win the match, 4-0.

The Eagles were ahead, 18-13, and one match away from the upset when senior Josh Lewis (West Liberty, Ohio-Salem) took on John Schoen at 197 lbs. Schoen stormed out to a 20-9 advantage aft er fi ve minutes of wrestling. In the third period, Schoen completed a tech fall of Lewis, 25-10, to erase the Wildcats’ deficit and end the bout in an 18-18 deadlock.

The Eagles will be idle unti l Thursday, Dec. 3, when Michigan State University invades Bowen Field House for EMU’s second straight matchup against a Big Ten opponent.

EASTERN MICHIGAN 18, NORTHWESTERN 18
HWT: David Wade (EMU) dec. Ben Kuhar (NW), 4-0 (EMU 3, NU 0)
125 lbs.: Chris Jenkins (EMU) dec. Bobby Joyce (NW), 4-0 (EMU 6, NU 0)
133 lbs.: Eric Metzler (NW) dec. Sean Clair (EMU), 2-1 (EMU 6, NU 3)
141 lbs.: Andrew Novak (EMU) forfeit (EMU 12, NU 3)
149 lbs.: Andrew Nadhir (NW) dec. J.J. Johnson (EMU), 4-2 (EMU 12, NU 6)
157 lbs.: Aaron Sulzer (EMU) dec. Kevin Bialka (NW), 7-0 (EMU 15, NU 6)
165 lbs.: Robert Kellogg (NW) maj. dec. Lester France (EMU), 16-6 (EMU 15, NU 10)
174 lbs.: Justi n Brandel (EMU) dec. Frank Batt aglia (NW), 5-1 (EMU 18, NU 10)
184 lbs.: Aaron Jones (NW) dec. Nick Hendrick (EMU), 4-0 (EMU 18, NU 13)
197 lbs.: John Schoen (NW) tech. fall Josh Lewis (EMU), 25-10 (EMU 18, NU 18)

Courtesy of EMU Sports Information.

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