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Otterbein totals 71 in back to back matches vs Muskingum and Case Western Reserve


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OTTERBEIN VS MUSKINGUM

The Otterbein wrestling team kicked off its Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) schedule with a victory Tuesday evening, topping Muskingum University by a score of 34-18 in front of another nice crowd.

The Cardinals, making the program's return to OAC competition for the first time since 1974, improve their team record to 8-1 on the season after what was a five-week layoff for winter break.

Muskingum (3-3, 0-1 OAC) took an early lead on a pin from 125-pounder Jordan Burkholder, but the Cardinals would respond with a quick pin by freshman Tyler Norris (133 lbs.) in the next match to even the contest.

Otterbein, competing without starters Jake Vaughan and Drew Kasper (rest), would jump ahead on a forfeit and never look back from there, starting with a mammoth slam and first-round pin at 1:14 from freshman Willy Plaisir (157 lbs.) to ignite the Rike Center audience before intermission.

"It felt great to get back on the mat and feel the fun environment in front of our home crowd," said Plaisir, who improved to 12-1 overall. "I stayed with the same approach as usual and was able to disrupt my opponent. I used his momentum when he tried to stand up at one point and hit the final takedown from there."

Freshman Donny Didion nearly completed a nice comeback at 165 pounds before suffering a narrow defeat in the closing seconds, but the Cardinals quickly regrouped and posted a major decision, 10-1, from Braden Neuberger (174 lbs.)

Neuberger's triumph was followed by a match-clinching pin from 184-pounder Corbin Bunsold at 2:53 of the opening round. It was Bunsold's second victory in as many tries against Muskingum's Anthony Cole-Young, whom he pinned in an almost-identical 2:56 last month at the Ohio Northern Invitational.

"It can be rough coming back from holiday breaks because there's a tendency to put on weight or get rusty," said Bunsold, who now has a team-high 10 pins this season. "I settled back in tonight and stuffed a couple of his early double-leg attempts. I followed with a shrug and found a way on top to finish it."

The Muskies collected their final points on a pin at 197 before Otterbein heavyweight Ras Lumpkins took his first victory of the year via forfeit.

http://otterbeincardinals.com/news/2017/1/10/wrestling-downs-muskingum-34-18-in-return-to-oac-competition.aspx

OTTERBEIN VS CASE WESTERN RESERVE

The Cardinal wrestlers continued their strong start to the inaugural season Wednesday in the second night of a back-to-back, flying past host Case Western Reserve University by a score of 37-9.

Otterbein claimed victories in eight of the 10 matches, including four falls, to run its season record to 9-1 heading into an off weekend. The team will return to action next Tuesday evening at Heidelberg University.

Freshman Jackson Lakso opened the action against Case Western Reserve with a win at 125 pounds, jumping ahead early and never relinquishing the lead en route to an 11-5 triumph. He now stands 8-2 on the season.

Classmate Tyler Norris (133 lbs.) followed by hanging on for a narrow 6-5 decision of his own, and sophomore Jake Vaughan ensued with a 9-1 major decision in his return to the mat at 141 pounds. It was his first outing since suffering an injury back in November.

CWRU got on the scoreboard with a technical-fall victory at the 149-pound division, but Otterbein standout Willy Plaisir continued his dominance at 157 by pinning his opponent just 1:03 into the first round. He now holds a 13-1 record to go along with seven falls, tied for second-best on the team with Norris.

Freshman Donny Didion got himself back into the win column after a narrow defeat against Muskingum, this time hanging on for a 4-2 triumph and giving the Cards some nice breathing room in the match, at 19-5.

The Cardinals then added with a pair of consecutive pins to clinch the contest, getting falls from Braden Neuberger (174 lbs.) at 3:45 and then 184-pounder Corbin Bunsold just 24 seconds into his match. Bunsold now has eight first-round pins on the season and 11 overall.

Otterbein fell victim at 197 pounds before finishing things off on a high note, watching heavyweight Ras Lumpkins tally a fall early in the third round (5:45) in the first mat appearance of his career. He won by forfeit against the Muskies.

The Cardinals will face a stiff test next time out against Heidelberg as the Student Princes recently earned team championships at the Ohio Northern and Waynesburg Invitationals.
 
 
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