NORFOLK, Va. - ODU wrestlers Billy Curling and Jack Dechow each debuted at No. 20 in the latest TheOpenMat.com poll. Old Dominion maintained seven wrestlers in the national polls this week.
At 149 pounds, Alexander Richardson has won 10 matches in a row and is 22-6 this season. This week Richardson is ranked at No. 14 in both the InterMat and FloWrestling polls. Last weekend Richardson defeated then No. 8-ranked Tyron Claxton from Ohio to help the Monarchs win their fifth consecutive dual match in a row.
Monarchs redshirt senior Billy Curling also delivered another terrific result last weekend by defeating then No. 9-ranked Cody Walters, which is Curling's second consecutive victory against a top-10 opponent. Curling is ranked No. 21 by WrestlingReport.com heading into this week.
Brandon Jeske/125/Freshman/Virginia Beach, Va.
WrestlingReport.com: #28
Jeske is 15-11 this season and 2-1 in the MAC. Earlier this season Jeske defeated then No. 12-ranked Corey Keener of Central Michigan.
Chris Mecate/141/Redshirt Sophomore/Highland, Calif.
TheOpenMat.com: #5
InterMat: #4
WrestlingReport.com: #4
Asics FloWrestling: #7
Mecate is 23-6 this season and 5-1 in the MAC. The 141-pounder defeated Ohio's Noah Forrider by an 8-2 decision this past weekend.
Alexander Richardson/149/Sophomore/Jersey City, N.J.
TheOpenMat.com: #15
InterMat: #14
WrestlingReport.com: #14
Asics FloWrestling: #17
Richardson is 22-6 this season and 5-1 in the MAC. He has won his last nine dual matches and ten overall in a row. During his ten match winning streak Richardson has defeated then No. 14-ranked David Habat (Edinboro) and No. 8-ranked Tyron Claxton of Ohio.
Tristan Warner/157/Redshirt Junior/Mechanicsburg, Pa.
InterMat: #19
WrestlingReport.com: #19
Warner has won five matches in a row dating back to Jan. 24. He is 16-8 this season, including 5-1 in the MAC. Warner defeated Spartak Chino by a 3-0 decision this past weekend.
Billy Curling/174/Redshirt Senior/Chesapeake, Va.
TheOpenMat.com: #20
WrestlingReport.com: #21
Curling put up another top-10 win this weekend by defeating No. 9-ranked Cody Walters by a 7-2 decision. Curling also defeated No. 8-ranked Mike Ottinger of Central Michigan by a 5-4 decision back on Feb. 2.
Jack Dechow/184/Redshirt Freshman/Richmond, Ill.
TheOpenMat.com: #20
WrestlingReport.com: #20
Dechow won his sixth straight dual match last Sunday by defeating Ohio's Ryan Garringer by a 14-4 major decision. ODU's 184-pounder is a perfect 4-0 in the MAC. Dechow is 8-1, including 2-1 vs. the top-20 since his return to the ODU lineup on Jan. 10.
Kevin Beazley/197/Redshirt Freshman/Howell, Mich.
WrestlingReport.com: #27
This past weekend Beazley gave Ohio's No. 7-ranked Phil Wellington all he could handle by falling just short in a 3-1 sudden victory decision.
Takedown Wrestling Media Dual Impact Index: Updated Feb. 10
125- Brandon Jeske is No. 38
133- Michael Hayes is No. 69
141- Chris Mecate is No. 8
149- Alexander Richardson is No. 20
157- Tristan Warner is No. 32
165- Devin Geoghegan is No. 66
174- Billy Curling is No. 31
184- Jack Dechow is No. 18
197- Kevin Beazley is No. 37
285- Matt Tourdot is No. 43
Old Dominion travels to face No. 10-ranked Missouri Sunday, February 16 at 1 p.m. as the Monarchs continue Mid-American Conference play.
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