Second-year head coach Ned Shuck and the Heidelberg University wrestling team opened their 2012-2013 dual meet schedule against the College of Mount St. Joseph in front of a loud and enthusiastic home crowd in Seiberling Gymnasium. The Berg dropped only two matches to the Lions, in a 40-10 victory.
Four Student Princes recorded pins for the Berg, starting with freshman 133-pounder Colin McDermitt (Lima/Lima Shawnee) who pinned his Mount St. Joseph counterpart in 2:29.
Then the Berg finished the match with three consecutive pins from 184-pound sophomore Brennan Kelly (Clinton Township/De La Salle), 197-pounder, sophomore Jason Russell (Columbus/West) and 285-pounder, freshman Nino Majoy (Huron).
Kelly fell behind early in the match until halfway into the second period, when he turned his opponent to his back for an electrifying pin.
Russell, who has already claimed two individual titles in invitational tournaments this season, collected the fastest fall of the evening in a time of 1:36. With the pin, Russell remains unbeaten in competition this season.
In the final match of the evening, Majoy nearly took his MSJ counterpart the distance, but he managed to turn Iain Buckler to his back and collect the fourth pin of the evening for the Student Princes with 0:45 remaining in the match.
The contest began with freshman Ryan Hornack’s (Medina) 11-7 decision, followed by McDermitt’s fall. 141-pounder, junior Chris Osborne (McComb) dropped his first dual match of the year, after being pinned in 1:40.
Junior 149-pounder Andrew Johnson (Weston/Otsego) recorded a technical fall over his MSJ opponent, in the third period by a score of 17-2.
Following Johnson’s technical fall, the Berg dropped their second match of the night, when 157-pounder Aaron Banko (Garfield Heights) lost by major decision, 14-2.
With the Berg ahead of the Lions 14-10 following Banko’s match, senior 165-pounder Justin Wharton (Oregon/Clay) tacked on another three team points with a decision over Cory Disbennett.
Junior Jeremy Stepp (Cincinnati/Princeton) followed Wharton’s decision with a 24-9 technical fall of his own. The Berg finished the Lions off with three consecutive pins.
The Berg grapplers return to the mat on Saturday, November 17, when they travel to Olivet College. Wrestling from Olivet, MI is slated for 10:30 a.m.
