Percival train keeps rolling, Ohio splits

by Eric Pfahler

Right now it seems like Hulk Hogan and Stone Cold Steve Austin combined could not take down Ohio wrestler Jake Percival (149 pound weight class).

No. 8 Percival improved his record to 29-2 after defeating both West Virginia’s No. 19 Billy Smith by medical forfeit and Kent State wrestler Ryan Simmons.

The Bobcats (11-10 overall, 2-3 Mid-American Conference) avenged their 19-15 loss to Kent State (19-5, 2-2 MAC) earlier this season by beating the Golden Flashes 20-13 Sunday. The victory followed a 23-15 loss to No. 10 West Virginia (9-2 overall, 4-0 Big East) Saturday.

Wrestler Anthony Carrizales (133) also won both of his matches, including a pin against West Virginia wrestler Brandon Lauer to push his career total to 40 wins.

Carrizales said the attitude of the Bobcats was personified by teammate Mike Caruso’s (125) takedown of West Virginia wrestler Nathan Kendjorsky to win the match with less than 15 seconds left.

“West Virginia is one of those teams that we think is going to be wrestling in our face,” Carrizales said. “They’re going to be going hard, they’re going to be in shape and (Saturday) they did. They came out at us, and for Mike to dig down and get that takedown, it just shows we’re at where we’re at because of our conditioning. He showed a lot of heart.”

Percival opened the Kent State meet with a major decision. Ohio wrestler Alex Cooper (157), who filled in for injured Ryan Smith, lost a 5-2 match to No. 19 Mike Tolar. 

Ohio wrestler Tony DeAnna (165) overcame an early deficit to win his fifth match of the season against Kent State wrestler Mark Lensman, providing Ohio with an instant adrenaline rush.

Ohio wrestler Luke Moore (174) said DeAnna’s win turned the meet around like a doorknob.

“(DeAnna’s win) was huge,” Moore said. “That’s the only way you can say it. (Lensman) got the first take down, and DeAnna never gave up and beat him. When DeAnna’s got his offense going he’s a tough wrestler.”

Moore, Mark Shrout (184) and Joel Weimer (197) won their matches to give Ohio a comfortable lead.

Kent State put together a small rally, winning in the heavyweight and 125 pound weight classes before Carrizales’ win, which sealed the match.

Ohio coach Joel Greenlee said beating Kent State means more to him than any other duel meet.

“Kent State’s a big rivalry for us,” Greenlee said. “There’s no secret about it. We recruit against them. For me personally that’s the biggest rivalry in the MAC. I wanted to win that match, and we did a pretty good job of getting it done today.”

Ohio competes next in the Cornell Invitational at 2 p.m. Saturday at Cornell.