Bowman Fall Clinches WJU Wrestling Win over Seton Hill

February 13, 2016

GREENSBURG, Pa. – For the second night in a row, the Wheeling Jesuit wrestling fate came down to the heavyweight bout. And for the second-straight match, the Cardinals' Logan Bowman turned a reverse into a third-period fall and clinched the team win at Seton Hill, 22-14.

Tied at 5-5 following two periods, Bowman reversed the Griffins' Alex Soutiere and secured the match-deciding fall at 6:25.

The WJU victory gives it a program-best 10th dual win of the season and improved to 10-6 on the year with all six defeats to nationally-ranked foes.

"A 10-win season is a great accomplishment for the guys. We were definitely excited to get back on the mat after last night and the guys energy and intensity was at a better level. In our losses, we battled really hard, but we need to correct a few things in the next 12 days leading into regionals. Seton Hill (8-4) was well-prepared and battled hard like they always do," said WJU head coach Sean Doyle.

Friday night, Bowman won his match in the third period, as well, in a 5-2 decision at Millersville, which provided WJU the tie breaking criteria to break a tie and a 20-19 win. With tonight's victory, the 285-pound Bowman also improved to a season-best 10-10 record.

"Every year we usually have a trip that brings us together a little bit and tests us. For us to be in the bus seven to eight hours over the past two days and to overcome some unexpected adversity, it says a lot about our growth and maturity as a young program," explained Doyle. "We learn much more about our team and individuals in moments like this than we do when we're getting padded on the back."

The Cardinals prevailed in six of the dual match's 10 bouts and won 12 of 20 bouts over two nights. Sawyer Leppla (184) produced the other bonus-point win with a major decision, while Dustin Warner (125), Nolan Whitely (133), Peyton Geary (157) and Dean Meyer (174) added decision wins.

In his best match this season, the junior Leppla started strong with a quick takedown and four near fall points and opened a 6-0 lead on the Griffins' Morris Lawson. Leppla held an 8-1 advantage after a period and 10-3 lead following five minutes. He took the 13-4 major decision and set up WJU with a five-point cushion, 16-11, with two matches left.

Warner and Whitely gave the visitors an early lead. Warner battled to a 5-1 decision over Collin Dees, before Whitely had his hand raised for a 9-5 decision over Seton Hill's Rodney Sunday for a WJU 6-0 advantage.

At 157, Geary scored a second-period escape and take down and never gave up the lead from there for a 4-2 win.

Tied at 6-6 after two periods, Meyer outscored the Griffins' Christian Bosco, 4-2, in the final two minutes via a pair of takedowns for an 11-8 final.

WJU wraps up its dual match schedule next Wednesday, Feb. 17, at home against Gannon University. The first bout takes the mat at 7 p.m.

"It's an exciting time of the year for us and the guys are anxious to wrestle Gannon and prepare for the regional," finished Doyle.

Wheeling Jesuit 22, Seton Hill 14
125 – Dustin Warner (Wheeling Jesuit) over Collin Dees (Seton Hill) (Dec 6-1) – WJU 3-0
133 – Nolan Whitely (Wheeling Jesuit) over Rodney Sunday (Seton Hill) (Dec 9-5) – WJU 6-0
141 – Joseph Alessandro (Seton Hill) over Damon Outward (Wheeling Jesuit ) (TF 18-2 4:22) – WJU 6-5
149 – Ty Lydic (Seton Hill) over Dominick Nania (Wheeling Jesuit) (Dec 2-1) – SH 8-6
157 – Peyton Geary (Wheeling Jesuit) over Tanner Druck (Seton Hill) (Dec 4-2) – WJU 9-8
165 – Andrew Doak (Seton Hill) over Keegan Driscoll (Wheeling Jesuit) (Dec 5-3) – SH 11-9
174 – Dean Meyer (Wheeling Jesuit) over Christian Bosco (Seton Hill) (Dec 11-8) – WJU 12-11
184 – Sawyer Leppla (Wheeling Jesuit) over Morris Lawson (Seton Hill) (MD 13-4) – WJU 16-11
197 – Jake Temple (Seton Hill) over Terrance Fanning (Wheeling Jesuit) (Dec 3-2) – WJU 16-14
285 – Logan Bowman (Wheeling Jesuit) over Alex Soutiere (Seton Hill) (Fall 6:25) – WJU 22-14


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