Even with three starting seniors winning their own individual matches, the Eastern Michigan wrestling team was unable to keep up with the Ohio Bobcats in a 20-12 loss at the Convocation Center on Friday.
With veteran Jacob Davis injured, the Eagles looked to their bench for wrestlers to come in and contribute. In a dual where nine of the 10 matches were decided by decisions, the Eagles came up short.
“Trying to figure things out with Jacob Davis out of the lineup didn’t really help us,” said coach David Bolyard. “We brought Kayne MacCallum down from 184, to try to figure it out until we get Jake Davis back.”
To kick off the dual, the Eagles looked to the no. 14 nationally ranked heavyweight in junior Gage Hutchinson. Hutchinson was unable to keep his hot streak from The Midlands tournament going as he fell to Zach Parker with a 7-2 decision.
Another EMU ranked player fell as no. 18 ranked freshman, Noah Gonser, fell to no. 19 ranked Shakur Laney of Ohio by a 4-1 decision at the 125 class. The Eagles trailed early with a score of 6-0.
“We have a heavyweight that was trying to trick guys instead of wrestle them,” said Bolyard. “I don’t think we wrestled that smart at 125; I think that is a match he should win.”
Senior Shayne Wireman gave EMU its first points of the day with his 10-3 decision. Junior Kyle Springer was unable to tie the match up as he fell in a 4-1 decision to set the score at 9-3.
The next wrestler to get points on the board was another senior in Nick Barber who won a 8-2 decision. Freshman J.J. Wolfe would have 19-0 technical fall and would have the Eagles trailing 14-6.
The third senior struck when Devan Marry came through with a 10-4 decision to cut the deficit to five. Sophomore Kayne MacCallum was in the place of Jacob Davis and lost in a 6-3 decision.
The fourth senior in the lineup was Mitch Malott and unlike the other was unable to pull off a win as he fell in a 12-9 decision. With the Ohio win solidified, sophomore Derek Hillman still came out and won a 4-3 decision at the 197 weight class.
The Eagles will look to rebound against Old Dominion as the Eagles host the Monarchs on Sunday, Jan. 8 at noon.
“They never really pulled away and I think those are the matches that I think we should win,” said Bolyard.
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