CINCINNATI, Ohio – On Wednesday, February 14
th your Mount St. Joseph University wrestling team welcomed the Purple Raiders of Mount Union to the Harrington Center. After trailing early, three straight victories gave the Lions a cushion with six matches remaining. Huge wins from
Skyler Cowgill and
Kaleb Gelter propelled the Lions to a Senior Night victory taking down Mount Union 30-22.
After falling by pin in the first match, the Lions turned to
Desmond Diggs in the 133lb weight class. Diggs attacked early grabbing a 9-2 match lead after the first period. After not much action in the second period, Diggs racked up six more points in the third to take the match 15-4. Following Diggs was
Jorden Zigo in the 141lb class. Mount Union forfeited the 141lb weight class giving the Lions a 10-6 lead after three matches.
In the 149lb match the Lions sent
Andrew Magness to the mat. Magness facing his former school, had something to prove. The Sophomore jumped ahead early leading 6-2 after two periods of wrestling. In the final period, with just under a minute left Mount Union's Kneeland went for a double-leg takedown. Magness quickly shifted reversing the shot pinning Kneeland on the mat. Magness held his position getting the pin with just 40 seconds left in the match giving the Lions a 16-6 advantage.
The Lions fell in the 157lb class but next to the mat was
Dylan Deck. Deck again worked quickly for the Lions grabbing an early 8-1 advantage after two periods. In the final period, Deck added a takedown alongside a riding time point to grab a 12-2 major decision victory in the 165lb class.
Following Deck was
Skyler Cowgill in the 174lb class. Cowgill was recognized before the Dual as the Lions one Senior on Senior Night. In his final match in the Harrington Center, Cowgill went out on top. The Senior got ahead 3-0 in the opening period and never looked back. Cowgill grabbed two more takedowns along with a riding time point to pick up another major decision victory by a score of 10-2.
The Lions fell in the 184lb class but still held a 24-17 lead with two matches remaining. The first of the final two matches was the 197lb class. The Lions sent
Kaleb Gelter to the mat with a chance to ice the Dual. Gelter did just that earning the Lions second pin of the night. Gelter needed just over two minutes to get the pin, putting the Lions ahead 30-17. In the final match of the evening, the Lions fell but still took home the Valentine's Day Dual victory by a score of 30-22.
UP NEXT: Your Mount St. Joseph Lions are back in action on Saturday, February 17
th when they travel to Angola, Ind. to compete at the Mid-States Invitational hosted by Trine University. The tournament is scheduled to begin at 9 AM.
