STEUBENVILLE - Collecting victories in eight of the nine matches actually contested, Big Red's wrestlers cruised to a convincing 64-6 victory over Oak Glen Wednesday inside the Crimson Center.
With the win, Mike Blackburn's grapplers, ranked number one in the dual standings of the OVAC's AAAA division, improve to 14-1. Oak Glen falls to 6-3.
Big Red's Greg Moray ran his record to 15-0 with a hard-fought 3-1 decision over Dylan Davis at 220. Davis started the night ranked number one in the OVAC with Moray rated second. His win was one of three recorded by the hosts over higher ranked opponents.
Article Photos
Oak?Glen’s Zach?Brown pins Steubenville’s Michael?Pearson during their match Wednesday at Big Red. Brown’s victory was the lone one for the Golden Bears as Big Red won the dual, 64-6. (Photo by Mike Mathison)
Anthony Parada scored a 10-4 win over Tyler Brown at 120 pounds. Parada is ranked third in the conference and Brown second. At 138, Chastin Hobley, rated eighth, earned a 2-1 victory over Kole Koper, who holds down the fifth spot.
"I'm pleased that we were able to get three big wins against kids that are ranked higher than us," Blackburn said.
In perhaps the most entertaining match of the evening, Big Red's Brandon Llewellyn rallied for a 10-8 decision over Kyle Mack. The Oak Glen grappler held an 8-7 lead late before surrendering a point on a stalling call. Llewellyn then managed a take down in the final seconds to secure the win.
Fact Box
Big Red 64 Oak Glen 6
106: Devon Brown (BR) maj. dec. Josh Cornell (OG), 16-7
113: Zach Brown (OG) pin Michael Pearson (BR), 1:30
120: Anthony Parade (BR) dec. Tyler Brown (OG), 10-4
126: Brandon Llewellyn (BR) dec. Kyle Mack (OG), 10-8
132: Jake McKitrick (BR) pin Avery Flowers (OG), 0:43
138: Chastin Hobley (BR) dec. Kole Koper (OG), 2-1
145: Shawn McGee (BR) forfeit
152: Trent Mays (BR) forfeit
160: Mark Cole (BR) forfeit
170: Jake Howarth (BR) pin Teddy Adkins (OG), 3:55
182: Davon Wicker (BR) forfeit
195: Charlie Keenan (BR) forfeit
220: Greg Moray (BR) dec. Dylan Davis (OG), 3-1
285: Ryan Wood (BR) pin Joey Mercer (OG), 2:38
Ryan Wood (285), Jake McKitrick (132) and Jake Howarth (170) all recorded pins for Big Red. Devon Brown earned a major decision at 106.
"When you wrestle Oak Glen, it's always a big match," Blackburn added. "You always have to be ready to go. They're down a little bit right and they have some holes. But, we had some tough matches."
The hosts earned forfeit wins in the 145, 152, 160, 182 and 195 weight classes.
Big Red will host the annual Kiwanis Tournament starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. Wheeling Park, a team Blackburn described as "solid all the way through," will visit next Wednesday before Big Red enters the Top Gun Invitational in Alliance. Blackburn called the Top Gun "one of the toughest tournaments in Ohio."
Oak Glen's lone victory came at 113 as Zach Brown, the top ranked OVAC wrestler, pinned Michael Pearson in 1:30.
"Zach is a strong competitor," Oak Glen head coach Patrick McGillian said. "He comes out focused each match and takes cares of business."
The Golden Bears are back in action Saturday when they visit Wheeling Park.
"We weren't thrilled with the outcome tonight,' McGillian admitted. "In the matches we did wrestle, we were in them. A few things just didn't go our way. We'll come back, get ready for the OVAC tournament and hopefully get to meet some of these kids again."
