Ohio Northern tops Mount Union

ONU

Pawlitz

ADA, Ohio — Sophomore Michael Pawlitz picked up a key pin at 197 pounds, lifting No. 24 Ohio Northern to a 20-19 Ohio Athletic Conference victory at No. 14 Mount Union on Tuesday night.

The Polar Bears improve to 9-4 overall and are 2-0 in OAC action, while the Purple Raiders fall to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in the OAC.

This was the fifth consecutive match for ONU against a nationally-ranked opponent. ONU is 4-1 in those matches.

Trailing 16-14 after eight weight classes, Pawlitz put ONU up 20-16 with a pin in 2:48.

Freshman Cody Lovejoy then iced the victory by staying with All-American Derick Hesson in the heavyweight class.

Hesson eked out a 7-6 win, but the three team points were not enough to overcome ONU’s four-point lead and gave the Polar Bears the 20-19 victory.

Sophomore Cole Cochran got ONU off to a quick start with a 5-4 decision at 125 pounds.

After three Purple Raider victories gave Mount Union a 13-3 lead, ONU rattled off three consecutive victories to rally.

Senior Mick Letcher won by major decision 13-5 at 157 pounds, junior and fifth-ranked Billy Painter won by decision 6-0 at 165 and two-time All-American and No. 3-ranked Kyle Kwiat won by major decision 14-2 at 174 to give ONU a 14-13 lead.

Mount Union won by decision at 184 pounds to take a 16-14 lead, setting up ONU’s late rally.