CINCINNATI, Ohio - Your Mount St. Joseph University wrestling team traveled to Elder High School to compete against the Saints of Thomas More University. Although this was a home meet for the Saints, five former Elder Panthers are currently on the Lions squad, with four of them wrestling in the dual. The Lions got down early on in the dual and were able to battle back. Going into the final match the Lions lead by 3 but after a tough match the Lions dropped the dual 22-19.
The Lions dropped the first match via a forfeit. The first match of the day started at the 133lb weight class. The Lions dropped this match as the team score showed 9-0. But that wasn't the case for long as Senior Nate McClanahan (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) got the Lions on the board. After two hard fought periods McClanahan finally got his victory with a pin to trim the Saints lead to 9-6.
Next, the Lions dropped the following two matches which then showed a dual score of 16-6 with the Saints ahead. But their lead woyuld get smaller. Freshman Austin Belcher (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) fought hard to get his 9-7 win to trim the lead to 16-9.
After that win, the Lions started to roll. Sophomore Cornell Beachem Jr. (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods) was in a tightly contested match. But, Beachem Jr. didn't back down and secured his 14-5 major decision win. Next up for the Lions was Sophomore Antonio McCloud (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder). McCloud was facing off against the #9 ranked 184lb wrestler in the NAIA Avery Jones. This didn't intimidate McCloud though as he captured his 9-7 win.
In the 197lb weight class the Lions found themselves in another tough matchup. This time it was Sophomore Cameron Sauerwein (Harrison, Ohio/Harrison) facing off against the #17 ranked wrestler in the NAIA James Caniglia. This match was close for all three periods. But, Sauerwein was able to fight and scratch his way to a 4-3 victory giving the Lions a 19-16 dual match lead. In the final match of the day the Lions dropped a match via the pin. The final dual match score showed 22-19 in favor of Thomas More.
You can catch the Lions back in action next Friday and Saturday, January 31st and February 1st as they travel to Wheaton, Ill. to compete in the Pete Wilson Invitational at Wheaton College. Continue to check out MSJSports.com for more updates on the rest of the Lions 2019-20 season!
