Gillihan decisioned Jose Matos, the country's seventh-ranked wrestler at 133 pounds, and did so rather convincingly. Gillihan never trailed in the match and finished strong with a four-point third period plus he earned a point for over three minutes of riding time.
Then, just like they did a week ago in their upset of then 18th-ranked Ashland University, the Storm (9-3) put together a three-match winning streak over the final three matches of the evening. A victory that was both the first for the Storm in three tries over Gannon (1-3) and the team's school-record ninth dual match win of the year.
The night got off to a fast and exciting start. Junior Tyler Tesny (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Cuyahoga Falls) scored an escape and picked up a point for stalling in the final 15 seconds to come back and defeat Jermaine Easter, 6-5, at 174 pounds. Classmate Zev Green (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) followed with a thrilling sudden victory overtime win at 184 pounds, knocking off Zack Zelcs 4-2.
Following a pin at 197 pounds by Gannon's Chris Boyd, freshman heavyweight Almonte Patrick (Maple Heights, Ohio/Maple Heights) jumped out to an early 7-0 first-period lead and went on to an 11-1 major decision over Chaz Lear.
The 10-6 Lake Erie lead was quickly erased by a major decision win at 125 pounds by the Golden Knights' Matt Turek. After Gillihan's win at 133, Adam Weinell pulled off a surprise pin of junior Tom McVicker (South Fork, Pa./Forest Hills/Penn Highlands) at 141 pounds. Weinell was trailing 7-5 with five seconds to go in the second period when he got the fall.
Now trailing 16-13, the Lake Erie went on what has been a recently customary late run. Sophomore Nate Ball (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) earned a convincing 12-7 decision over Mike Krysiak at 149 pounds and junior Zak Vargo (Stow, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) made quick work of Sean Floor with a pin in 2:01 at 157 pounds.
Sophomore All-American Matt Vandermeer (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) closed out the night with a 6-3 decision over Adam Greenman, his 13th consecutive victory.
The Storm now turns its attention to its showdown Sunday afternoon, Jan. 27, at second-ranked Notre Dame College.
Results:
125: Matt Vandermeer Turek (GU) maj. dec. Ian Ross (LEC), 11-3
133: Austin Gillihan (LEC) dec. Jose Matos (GU), 10-5
141: Adam Weinell (GU) pinned Tom McVicker (LEC), 4:55
149: Nate Ball (LEC) dec. Mike Krysiak (GU), 12-7
157: Zak Vargo (LEC) pinned Sean Floor (GU), 2:01
165: Matt (LEC) dec. Adam Greenman (GU), 6-3
174: Tyler Tensy (LEC) dec. Jermaine Easter (GU), 6-5
184: Zev Green (LEC) dec. Zack Zelcs (GU), 4-2 (SV1)
197: Chris Boyd (GU) pinned Mikey Samijlenko (LEC), 3:39
Hwt: Almonte Patrick (LEC) maj. dec . Chaz Lear (GU), 11-1
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