Athens, OH. - The No. 10 UIndy wrestling team fell in a tight 18-16 battle against No. 12 Ashland Eagles at the Ohio Showcase.
Four Greyhounds won by decision across weight classes with one winning by major decision, giving the Hounds 16 total points for their team score total. However, a disqualification against UIndy proved to be the difference for the Eagles.
This is the second consecutive season the future conference foes have met for a dual during the regular season, specifically at the Ohio Showcase.
"Ashland is always tough and they won the battle of bonus points," said head coach Jason Warthan. "It's great to be in back and forth duals like this."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hounds, and Nathan Smith, opened the dual with a gritty win 3-1 to secure three points by decision for UIndy.
"It was great to see Nathan Smith back in the lineup," said Warthan.
Smith was ranked 12th in the NWCA preseason poll for the 125 pound weight class and made his season debut in the Ohio Showcase after not making the trip to the Pioneer Open.
The Hounds then saw strong responses from Ashland falling by decision in both the 133 and 141 weight classes.
True freshman Logan Dawson then took on the challenge of the No. 7 ranked 149 pound wrestler in Brock Durbin, a former GMAC Freshman of the Year and national qualifier, in a bout again defined by the freshman's grit.
Warthan described the performance saying, "Dawson picked up another ranked win. It was a come from behind, gutsy win."
The final result of the battle was a 4-3 decision, awarding Dawson's team with three points to return even at six with the Eagles.
The 157 weight class saw a disqualification go the way of the Eagles, doubling up UIndy with six more points, but the Greyhounds soon responded.
The Greyhounds then went on a slight run of their own, picking up decisions in the 165 and 174 pound weight classes.
In the 165 pound bout it was Michael Ortega, the No. 9 ranked wrestler in the weight class, who picked up his sixth straight win of the season after winning the weight class at the Pioneer Open. Ortega earned this one with a 12-7 score.
Then Levi Abbott stepped up to the plate and didn't miss, winning in a closer 14-12 decision. The win came against a familiar foe as Abbott defeated Matt Malay in the consolation semifinal of the Pioneer Open last week.
"Abbott picked up a win in a back and forth match. That's the second win over that opponent this week," said Warthan.
Ashland snuck out wins in both the 184 and 197 pound weight classes with the closest decision of the dual coming in the 184 pound weight class with a 7-6 decision against the No. 10 ranked 184 pound wrestler in the nation.
Coach Warthan added about the 184 pound weight class bout, "Mason Day was impressive in the loss. He was right there at the end of the match, but couldn't quite get the win."
In the final bout of the day the Greyhounds came to play, despite finding themselves down six points. Hartley Hoover was dominant after his fifth place finish at the Pioneer Open, winning by major decision due to the 14-2 difference after the third period.
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds will be back on the road Saturday, November 14th when they take on the Bob Del Rosa Open in Cleveland, Ohio.
