ADA, Ohio - On Saturday, February 12th your Mount St. Joseph University Lions traveled to Ohio Northern to compete at the Mid-States Invitational. In total there were 8 teams participating as the Lions scored 91 points propelling them to a 3rd place finish. The Lions had 7 wrestlers competing in the Invitational and all of them placed within the top 5 including two champions and one runner-up.
First,
Jake Cotsonas (Cincinnati, Ohio/Loveland) got things started for the Lions in the 133lb weight class. Cotsonas received a bye in the first round and followed that with a dominating performance in the quarterfinal defeating his opponent by major decision 21-9. Cotsonas would advance to the 1st place match after a medical forfeit but would come just short dropping his final match of the day. Cotsonas finished the day 2-1 while placing 2nd in the 133lb weight class.
Up next for the Lions was sophomore 141lb
Desmond Diggs (Xenia, Ohio/Xenia). Diggs struggled early dropping his first match but would respond well defeating his opponent via pin after a bye in the consolation bracket. After a pair of medical forfeits Diggs was awarded a 3rd Place finish to cap off his day.
Following Diggs was junior
Roger Dylan Deck (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) in the 157lb weight class. Deck got off to a hot start defeating his first two opponents 11-4 and 6-3 respectively. But, Deck would then drop his next two matches placing him in the 5th place match. Deck however responded well following the losses defeating his opponent 10-6 to claim 5th Place.
Judah Thomas (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown) made his season debut on Saturday and did not disappoint. Thomas got his day started in the 165lb weight class with a 17-4 major decision victory. In the quarterfinal match Thomas was again dominant pinning his opponent in the 2nd period. In the semifinal match Thomas continued to roll with a 7-4 decision victory setting him up with a shot to walk away victorious in the 165lb weight class. Thomas completed his perfect day with a pin in the championship match just 2 seconds into the 2nd period. Thomas begins his career at The Mount going 4-0 and claiming a championship as well.
Next for the Lions was Nathaniel "Cookie" Armstrong (Dayton, Ohio/Alter) in the 197lb weight class. After receiving a first round bye Armstrong lost a tough match in the quarterfinal. But, Armstrong would battle back in his consolation matches winning the first two 5-1 and 17-7 respectively. Armstrong would keep his momentum going with a 9-7 victory in the consolation semifinal match giving him a shot in the 3rd Place Match. Armstrong would get his redemption here defeating Wabash's Nicholas Casad who knocked Armstrong out in the quarterfinal match 7-3 to claim 3rd Place.
Gary Powell was the first of two heavyweight wrestlers for the Lions on Saturday. Powell got his day started nice with back-to-back pins while advancing to the semifinal match. In the semifinal match Powell would face his toughest challenge yet, the #1 heavyweight wrestler in NCAA DIII Max Bishop of Wabash. Powell would give Bishop a good match but could not complete the upset. Powell would then move on to the consolation semifinal match where he would register his 7th victory this season, all via pin and advanced to the 3rd Place Match. But, Powell was unable to secure the victory and took home a 4th Place finish.
Finally, one of the more experienced wrestlers,
Cameron Sauerwein (Harrison, Ohio/Harrison) would take the mat in the heavyweight class. Sauerwein got his day started with a quick 1st period pin in the first round followed by a 9-2 victory in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal match Sauerwein would take control once again defeating his opponent 6-2 to set up a great championship match versus #1 Max Bishop. In the championship match Wabash's Max Bishop had to take a medical forfeit naming Sauerwein the champion in the heavyweight class.
UP NEXT:
Your Mount St. Joseph Lions travel to Adrian, Mich. to compete in the NCAA Regionals hosted by Adrian College. Regionals is set to take place on Saturday, February 26th and Sunday, February 27th. Please continue to tune into msjlions.com for coverage of your MSJ wrestling team and all MSJ Athletics.
