BALTIMORE, MD – In the battle of the Blue Jays, it was host Johns Hopkins that turned an early deficit around by winning six straight bouts between 149 and 197 to fuel a 30-12 victory over visiting Elizabethtown in non-conference wrestling action at Goldfarb Gymnasium Wednesday evening.  The win improves Johns Hopkins' record to 6-8 on the year, while Elizabethtown slips to 2-10.  The match was the final dual meet of the season for both teams.

Where the Match Was Won
Trailing 9-3 after the 141-pound bout, Johns Hopkins jumped-started its match-turning run with a 14-8 decision at 149 by graduate student Lucas Escobar over Josh Paisley.  Hopkins followed with three straight bonus-point wins that turned the 9-6 deficit into a 30-9 advantage.  Sophomore Dominick Reyes scored an 18-3 technical fall win at 157, while senior Dane Morgan followed with an 11-2 major decision at 165.  A second-period pin by junior Nathan Wertheimer and a forfeit win for senior Isaac Morales at 184 set up the final win in the six-match spree, which came at 197 when senior Miles Gilliam topped Elijah Flasher, 7-2.

Seniors Roll
On a night when Johns Hopkins honored its seniors before the match started, the seniors responded by going 5-0 on the night.  In addition to the wins by Morgan, Morales and Gilliam, the Blue Jays got a 13-7 win by Ricky Cavallo at 133 and classmate Karl Tayeb added an 11-3 major decision of Quinn Hogue in an exhibition match at 197.

Holding Onto the Belt
Johns Hopkins and Elizabethtown share a nickname (Blue Jays) and compete annually in a dual meet for the Blue Jay belt, which is adorned with both teams' athletic logos.  The belt will remain in Baltimore again after Hopkins' victory tonight.

Notes of Interest
Cavallo improved to 27-2 on the year and 68-20 in his career • Morales picked up the 83^rd win of his career • Reyes now needs just one win for 50 in his career – 32 of his 49 career wins are bonus-point wins • Escoboar is also now just one win shy of 50 for his career.

What's Next
JHU will return to action on February 22-23 at Lycoming when the Blue Jays compete in the NCAA Regional Championships.  The top three finishers in each weight class at the regional advance to the NCAA Championships in Roanoke, Virginia (March 8-9).

Johns Hopkins-30, Elizabethown-12
125: Josh McLaughlin (EC) dec. Jeremy Berger (JHU), 10-4 (3-0)                                                              
133: #9 Ricky Cavallo (JHU) dec. Colton Rex (EC), 13-7 (3-3)                                                                       
141: Nick Gonzalez (EC) win by forfeit (9-3)
149: Lucas Escobar (JHU) dec. Josh Paisley (EC), 14-8 (9-6)                                                                         
157: Dominick Reyes (JHU) tech. fall Kyle Bythell (EC), 18-3 (9-11)
165: Dane Morgan (JHU) maj. dec. Hunter Beaudet (EC), 11-2 (9-15)
174: Nathan Wertheimer (JHU) pin Colten Shriner (EC) (3:35) (9-21)
184: Isaac Morales (JHU) win by forfeit (9-27)
197: Miles Gilliam (JHU) dec. Elijah Flasher (EC), 7-2 (9-30)
HWT: Maxwell Rhoden (EC) maj. dec. Henri Behaeghel (JHU), 9-0 (13-30)
+ Etown one point team point deduction for during 149-pound match
 
EXHIBITIONS
149:  Luke Moynihan (EC) dec. Yosef Ellis-Rech, 8-5
197:  Karl Tayeb (JHU) maj. dec. Quinn Hogue (EC), 11-3
 
Records
Elizabethtown (2-10)
Johns Hopkins (6-8)
 
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