Jan. 19, 2008

BALTIMORE, MD - The Johns Hopkins wrestling team went 2-1 at a Centennial Conference quad meet on Saturday as senior Eric Fishel (Owings Mills, MD/Owings Mills) recorded the 90th victory of his career at Hopkins. The Blue Jays (3-11, 2-1 CC) dropped their first match of the day to Ursinus by a score of 29-11. Hopkins bounced back to defeat Muhlenberg 29-13 and Gettysburg 37-9 in the final two matches of the meet.

Ursinus claimed the first two weight classes in its match with the Blue Jays to open up an 11-0 lead. Hopkins got its first points on the board at 141-pounds as freshman Ben Kauffman (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O'Connor) recorded the 12-2 major decision over James Bloom. Ursinus was victorious at 149-174 to take a commanding 26-4 lead in the match. Fishel picked up an 8-0 major decision against J.J. Weltler at 184-pounds and junior Tyler Schmidt (Richmond, VA/St. Christopher's) followed that up with a 6-2 decision over Harry Keyser at 197-pounds. Ursinus closed out the match with a 7-3 decision win at 285-pounds.

Against Muhlenberg, it was Hopkins jumping out to the early lead at freshman Akshay Paintal (Lexington, MA/Phillips Academy) pinned Dan McEnroy in 3:18 and fellow freshman Xavier Mohammed (Clarkesville, MD/River Hill) followed with an 8-1 decision over Michael Slevin. Muhlenberg picked up wins at 141 and 149 pounds to make it 8-7 in the match. Hopkins expanded its lead to 14-7 with a pin from freshman Eric Levenseller (Tabernacle, NJ/Seneca) at 157-pounds. An 8-2 decision by David Lavin at 165-pounds made it 14-10 in the contest. Hopkins picked up wins in the next three weight classes to take a 29-10 advantage in the match. After a win by forfeit at 174-pounds, Fishel recorded a pin in 4:32 at 184-pounds and Schmidt earned a hard fought 1-0 decision at 197-pounds. Muhlenberg won the final bout in the match with a 9-2 decision at 285-pounds.

Hopkins opened its match against Gettysburg with a forfeit victory at 125-pounds and extended its lead to 10-0 as Mohammed was a 13-3 major decision winner at 133-pounds. Kauffman picked up his second win of the day 141-pounds before Matt Shank got Gettysburg on the board with a decision win at 149-pounds. After the Bullets got another win at 157-pounds, the Blue Jays fired off four straight victories to take control of the match by a score of 37-6. Hopkins got wins by forfeit at 165 and 197 pounds. Fishel improved to 3-0 on the day and recorded the 90th victory of his career with a pin at 184-pounds. Sophomore Kyle Keane (West Islip, NY/West Islip) had a pin at 174-pounds for the Blue Jays as well.

Hopkins returns to action on January 30 when it hosts McDaniel in a Centennial Conference match. Start time in Goldfarb Gymnasium is set for 7 p.m.

Ursinus 29, Hopkins 11

125 - Steve Kingsland (UC) tech fall Akshay Paintal (JHU), 21-4
133 - Dan Glover (UC) pinned Xavier Mohammed (JHU) in 2:10
141 - Ben Kauffman (JHU) major dec. James Bloom (UC), 12-2
149 - Chris Springer (UC) dec. Jim Crumlish (JHU), 7-4
157 - Josh Pagano (UC) dec. Eric Levenseller (JHU), 6-5
165 - Micahel Schwager (UC) pinned Patrick Stanley (JHU) in 6:12
174 - Luke Benko (UC) dec. Kyle Keane (JHU), 6-5
184 - Eric Fishel (JHU) major dec. J.J. Weltler (UC), 8-0
197 - Tyler Schmidt (JHU) dec. Harry Keyser (UC), 6-2
285 - Matt Williams (UC) dec. Matt Rugani (JHU), 7-3

Hopkins 29, Muhlenberg 13

125 - Akshay Paintal (JHU) pins Dan McEnroy (MC) in 3:18
Hopkins assessed a team conduct foul during the 125-bout and lost a point.
133 - Xavier Mohammed (JHU) dec. Michael Slevin (MC), 8-1
141 - Billy Hall (MC) major dec. Ben Kauffman (JHU), 9-1
149 - Rob Kein (MC) dec. Jim Crumlish (JHU), 4-3
157 - Eric Levenseller (JHU) pins Matt Friedman (MC) in 2:11
165 - David Lavin (MC) dec. Matt Cole (JHU), 8-2
174 - Kyle Keane (JHU) wins by forfeit
184 - Eric Fishel (JHU) pins Matt Horn (MC) in 4:32
197 - Tyler Schmidt (JHU) dec. Chris Swensen (MC), 1-0
285 - Joe Tartar (MC) dec. Matt Rugani (JHU), 9-2

Hopkins 37, Gettysburg 9

125 - Akshay Paintal (JHU) wins by forfeit
133 - Xavier Mohammed (JHU) major dec. Jack Bostrom (GC), 13-3
141 - Ben Kauffman (JHU) dec. Ray Cottiers (GC), 3-2
149 - Matt Shank (GC) dec. Jim Crumlish (JHU), 5-1
157 - Andrew Goldstein (GC) major dec. Eric Levenseller (JHU), 14-6
165 - Patrick Stanley (JHU) wins by forfeit
174 - Kyle Keane (JHU) pins DJ Neri (GC) in 5:50
Gettysburg assessed a team conduct foul during the 174-bout and lost a point.
184 - Eric Fishel (JHU) pins Drew Wolenter (GC) in 1:01
197 - Tyler Schmidt (JHU) wins by forfeit
285 - Bobby Christopher (GC) dec. Matt Rugani (JHU), 5-2

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