ATHENS, Ohio -- The Old Dominion wrestling team (4-10, 0-5 MAC) lost to the No. 23 Ohio Bobcats, 25-16, in its final away match of the season Sunday afternoon after a big program win over Navy, a team receiving votes in the polls, Friday night. All-Americans Alexander Richardson and Jack Dechow earned bonus-point victories for the Monarchs while Chris Mecate and Austin Coburn picked up regular decision wins.
"Austin Coburn did a great job at heavyweight beating a tough opponent," head coach Steve Martin commented. "Mecate, Richardson and Dechow continue to improve in all positions and dominated their opponents today. I like the fact that Dechow got the major and looked very good on top. Richardson was dominant on top with over four minutes of riding time. Mecate was dominant as well and out-fought and out-conditioned his opponent. The three returning All-Americans are putting themselves in positions where everyone they are wrestling is blocking them off and trying to keep it close. They need to continue to focus on widening the gap between themselves and their opponents. We had matches at 165 and 125 where we were leading our opponents for much of the match. Jeske and Wright both had nationally-ranked guys and were in positions to close out victories but need to attack first to do so."
Alexander Richardson got the Monarchs off to a great start, securing a buzzer-beating fall over Ohio's Nick Steed at the 5:00 mark to put ODU out in front, 6-0. It was Richardson's fifth fall of the year which is the most of any Monarch this season.
The Bobcats responded with some bonus points of their own, as three-time NCAA qualifier Spartak Chino defeated Austin Eads, 8-0, at 157. In a battle of talented freshman at 165, Austin Reese picked up a third period takedown to defeat Seldon Wright, 5-2, and All-American Cody Walters won by disqualification in the final two seconds of the 174-pound bout over Terrell Forbes due to excessive stalling.
Trailing 13-6 on the team scoreboard, No. 5 Jack Dechow secured a takedown and nearfall in the final period to defeat NCAA qualifier Andrew Romanchik, 8-0, at 184 and put four points up for ODU.
At 197, No. 13 Phil Wellington won 21-8 over ODU redshirt freshman Kaleab Fetahi, who bumped up to take on the veteran Bobcat.
Austin Coburn increased his winning streak to three after bumping up to 285 for the third consecutive match. The redshirt senior scored a first period takedown, an escape and a penalty point to defeat Jesse Webb, 4-0.
In a back-and-forth bout at 125, it was Ohio's freshman Shakur Laney who prevailed with a takedown and two nearfall points in the waning seconds to knock off Brandon Jeske, 7-5. Freshman standout Cameron Kelly, ranked No. 14, followed up with a 16-0 tech. fall over Josh Markham at 133 to increase the Bobcats' lead to 25-13 heading into the final bout.
All-American Chris Mecate wrapped up the dual meet for the Monarchs with a 3-1 win over Noah Forrider on the strength of a second period takedown.
ODU gets back in action on Sunday, Feb. 14 for a double-dual meet against Eastern Michigan at 1 p.m. followed by American at 3 p.m. at the Ted Constant Center.
"We head back into a four-match home stand, and we are looking forward to being able to train and compete at home," Martin continued. "This is a good thing, as our guys need more matches because we had a slow competition schedule first semester. The MAC is a brutal conference, but this will continue to prepare us for our ultimate goal of putting guys on the podium at the NCAA tournament."
No. 23 Ohio 25, Old Dominion 16
149: #8 Alexander Richardson (ODU) pin Nick Steed (OHIO), 5:00
157: Spartak Chino (OHIO) maj. Austin Eads (ODU), 8-0
165: Austin Reese (OHIO) dec. Seldon Wright (ODU), 5-2
174: No. 9 Cody Walters (OHIO) won by disqualification over Terrell Forbes (ODU), 6:58
184: No. 5 Jack Dechow (ODU) maj. Andrew Romanchik (OHIO), 8-0
197: No. 13 Phil Wellington (OHIO) maj. Kaleab Fetahi (ODU), 21-8
285: Austin Coburn (ODU) dec. Jesse Webb (OHIO), 4-0
125: Shakur Laney (OHIO) dec. Brandon Jeske (ODU), 7-5
133: No. 14 Cameron Kelly (OHIO) TF Josh Markham (ODU), 16-0 (4:20)
141: No. 13 Chris Mecate (ODU) dec. Noah Forrider (OHIO), 3-1