Wrestling:  Wrestlers-of-the-Week

November 19

Baldwin-Wallace senior 165-pounder Gino Russo (Northfield Center/Nordonia) stands at 4-0 on the season.  Russo won by a technical fall against Tri-Stats at the Olivet Duals last week. At the Baldwin-Wallace Quad he won 10-7 versus Mt. St. Joseph, recorded a pin against Waynesburg and won 8-2 versus Case Western.

Other Nominees: Ben Adams (JCU)…Nick Sanchez (HEID)…David Penny (ONU)

November 26

John Carroll junior 184-pounder Ben Adams (Livonia, MI/Winston Churchill) scored the Blue Steaks’ only points in a 34-3 loss to Division I Cleveland State with a dominating effort against Benny Balogh.  Adams used three takedowns, including two in the first round, to cruise to an 8-2 decision. Adams is now 2-0 on the season since joining the team following football season.

Other Nominees: N/A

December 3

Heidelberg senior 285-pounder Robbie Brubeck (Findlay) led the Berg to a first place finish at the Messiah-Petrofes Invitational with a 5-0 record. Brubeck recorded a fall against West Liberty and Muhl and won by decision against Springfield, Gettysburg and teammate Ryan Bowers (The tournament allows schools to enter more than one wrestler at a weight class).

Other Nominees: Jeff Penny (ONU)…Gino Russo (B-W)…Adam Pizzurro (JCU)

December 10

Heidelberg senior 197-pounder Ryan Fogliano (Maple Hts.) and Ohio Northern sophomore 165-pounder Josh Bordner (Wapakoneta) went 1-0 last week. Fogliano earned a pin over Olivet (1:20) to remain undefeated. Bordner improved to 3-2 on the season with a pin over Tri-State.

Other Nominees: Gino Russo (B-W)

December 17

 Baldwin-Wallace senior 165-pounder Gino Russ (Twinsburg) led the Yellow Jackets at the Florida Gator Duals last week with a 3-0 record. Russo recorded two technical falls and one pin. He is 13-0 on the season.

Other Nominees: David Penny (ONU)…Ryan Bowers (HEID)

January 2

Heidelberg senior Nick Sanchez (Lima/Bath) led the Berg at the Brute Sunshine Open in Lakeland, Fla. last week. Sanchez bested the competition at the 141 pound weight class, beating top seeded Jason Adams from Augsburg 4-3 for first place. He defeated four other wrestlers on his way to the championship match, winning his first match by a technical fall, 19-3.

Other Nominees: N/A

January 7

Ohio Northern freshman Luke Miller (Indiana, Pa.) led the Polar Bears at the predominantly division II Midwest Classic with a 5-1 record  and a third place finish at the 157 pound weight class. He had an impressive 3-0 run through the consolation bracket, including a 3-2 victory over the number three seed from Campbellsville.

Other Nominees: Gino Russo (B-W)

January 14

Baldwin-Wallace senior Gino Russo (Northfield Center/Nordonia) led the Yellow Jackets at the Lycoming Duals with a 4-0 record, which included victories over OAC rivals, Heidelberg and Muskingum. He stands at 22-0 on the season and is ranked second in Division III at 165 pounds.

Other Nominees: David Penny (ONU)…Ben Adams (JCU)…Dave Minner (MUSK)... Joe Pflug (HEID)

January 21

Mount Union sophomore Mike Mannypenny (Salem) earned a 13-12 win over Baldwin-Wallace’s Gino Russo, who was ranked #2 in the nation and was 22-0 overall going into the match last week.  The narrow decision helped the Purple Raiders gain their first win of the season with a 20-18 victory at B-W.

Other Nominees: Brian Bucher (B-W)…Dave Minner (MUSK)…Ben Adams (JCU)…Tony Carothers (HEID)

January 28

Muskingum freshman Paul Jefferis (Barnesville) recorded four pins and a technical fall en route to a perfect 5-0 record at the Thiel Duals last week. Three of Jefferis’ wins clinched the victory in the match and helped the Muskies to their current season-high winning streak of five.

Other Nominees: Nick Hoopes (ONU)…Brian Bucher (B-W)…Nick Sanchez (HEID)…

February 4

Baldwin-Wallace senior 197-pounder Brian Haines (Amanda/Teays Valley) recorded a pin over John Carroll last week and then claimed an individual title at the John Summa Memorial Tournament with a decision over Brockport State and Washington & Jefferson. Haines finished the week with a perfect 3-0 (1-0 OAC) record.

Other Nominees: Joe Pflug (HEID)…Adam Pizzurro (JCU)…Luke Miller (ONU)

February 11

Heidelberg senior 141-pounder Nick Sanchez (Lima/Bath) went 1-0 last week with a victory over Wilmington to receive his 100th career win. Sanchez stands at 100-35 overall and 23-4 (5-0 OAC) on the year. He is just the third Student Prince to reach triple digits.

Other Nominees: N/A

February 18

Muskingum senior 257-pounder Dave Minner (Marion/Marion Pleasant) went 3-0 last week, which included a pin over Heidelberg and two wins over Case and RIT. Minner ended the regular season with an impressive OAC record of 5-1.

Other Nominees: Rayshawn Eatmon (B-W)…Jeff Penny (ONU)…Boomer Fechko (HEID)...Adam Pizzurro (JCU)