RedStorm men fall to ranked foes

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The University of Rio Grande men's wrestling team knew in advance that its collective hands were full with a pair of nationally-ranked Mid-South Conference foes visiting their home mat.
     And when all was said and done, things didn't go as the RedStorm had hoped that they would.
     Head coach Jason Schweer's squad dropped a 31-19 decision to sixth-ranked Campbellsville (Ky.) University before suffering a 42-3 drubbing at the hands of No. 24-ranked Lindsey Wilson University, Friday night, at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     Rio Grande, which was among the teams receiving votes in the coaches' poll, had a streak of three straight dual wins snapped.
     The RedStorm took an early 6-5 lead on the Tigers when junior Trey Allen (Mechanicsburg, OH) defeated Alumna Enwa by fall at the 2:01 mark of their 133-pound bout and trailed just 17-9 after senior Mackandle Freeman (Point Pleasant, WV) notched a 1-0 decision over Anthony Joseph at 157 pounds.
     But Campbellsville won each of the next two matches - including one by technical fall and the other by pin - to secure the match victory.
     Rio Grande closed the gap by winning each of the final two matchups - an 11-1 majority decision by senior Ashton Simison (Enon, OH) over Joel Hatchett at 197 pounds and senior Bruce Wagers' (Cincinnati, OH) pin of Sam Berlin at 3:00 of their 285-pound get together.
     Things weren't nearly as close against Lindsey Wilson, with Freeman's 5-4 decision over Brandon Irigoyen at 157 pounds providing the RedStorm with their only points.
     The Blue Raiders took each of the remaining eight matches decided on the mat, including three by fall, one by technical fall and another by majority decision.
     Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action next Saturday when it travels to the Rocky Top Duals in Gatlinburg, Tenn.