Statesmen Close Dual Season with Win Over Hannibal-LaGrange
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The William Penn wrestling team won six matches as it ended the dual meet portion of the 2017-2018 year with a 25-14 non-conference victory over Hannibal-LaGrange on Senior Nigh Thursday.
WPU (3-9) led from start to finish to drop the Trojans (2-11), including pulling out to a 16-0 edge through 157 pounds.
After neither team put a wrestler on the mat for the 125-pound bout, Darquell Pierre (So., St. Petersburg, Fla., Sociology) gave the navy and gold a 3-0 edge by defeating Caleb McElfresh 9-4 at 133 pounds.
Tyshon Cannon (Jr., LaGrange, Ga., Psychology) then earned a forfeit win at 141, while 149-pounder Kionte Crocker (Sr., Brandon, Fla., Industrial Technology) pushed the advantage to 13-0 by taking a 14-5 major-decision triumph over Joshua Nidever.
Johnny Hopper (Sr., Basehor, Kan., Psychology) slipped past Gage Maxwell 13-10 at 157 pounds to make it 16-0 in favor of WPU.
The visitors claimed wins at 165 and 174 to narrow the margin to 16-9, but 184-pounder Jay Fresh (Grad., Knoxville, Iowa, MBL) once again made it a double-digit lead for WPU at 19-9 by getting a last-second takedown to defeat Austin Hawes 8-6.
H-LG stayed in contention with a win at 197 pounds, but Max Lewis (So., Duchesne, Utah, Biology) clinched the meet by pinning Nigel Burnett in a time of 4:46. It was a big heavyweight matchup as Lewis is currently ranked seventh nationally, while Burnett is 20th.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Pella Saturday to compete in the Central Last Chance Tournament. Action begins at 9 a.m.
125–No match (0-0)
133–Darquell Pierre (W) won by decision over Caleb McElfresh, 9-4 (3-0)
141–Tyshon Cannon (W) won by forfeit (9-0)
149–Kionte Crocker (W) won by major decision over Joshua Nidever, 14-5 (13-0)
157–Johnny Hopper (W) won by decision over Gage Maxwell, 13-10 (16-0)
165–Tramel Harrel (H) won by decision over Dylan Comstock, 9-4 (16-3)
174–Jeremiah Reed (H) won by forfeit (16-9)
184–Jay Fresh (W) won by decision over Austin Hawes, 8-6 (19-9)
197–Drew McCollum (H) won by technical fall over Cody Jones, 21-3 (19-14)
285–Max Lewis (W) won by fall over Nigel Burnett, 4:46 (25-14)
