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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
JCU Wrestling honored 7 seniors on Tuesday evening. 
Monica McKie

Wrestling Celebrates Senior Day with a Victory over Heidelberg

| By: JCUSID
JCU Wrestling honored 7 seniors on Tuesday evening. 
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- In the midst of what's been anything but a normal pair of seasons, Tuesday evening provided reason to celebrate.

John Carroll University Wrestling commemorated not only the achievements but the perseverance of seven seniors who've stuck it out on a satisfying Senior Night.

The Blue Streaks locked down a 29-10 victory over Heidelberg, advancing to 4-1 in dual meets (including a 3-0 mark vs. Ohio Athletic Conference foes). 

"This was a great celebration," Andrew Perelka said. "COVID-19 has hurt the past two seasons, so it was nice to celebrate the seniors, especially for guys like Brez who came back. It was great to have one last home match in front of the great home crowd. Leaving it all on the mat and having no regrets is what being a Blue Streak is all about." 

Head Coach Mark Hawald is certainly thankful for his seniors.

"First of all, I hope some of these seniors come back next year and use their extra year, but I think to persevere through arguably the hardest time in the history of college athletes is special," said Hawald. "They've stayed the course, and that's a championship in and of itself. That said, we want to win a real championship. They're great kids, they've believed and trusted in us. They love each other, and that's kept us together. We hope in 6-8 weeks, the real payoff comes."

#11/24 John Carroll 29, Heidelberg 10
January 18, 2022 – Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center – University Heights, Ohio

125: Kyle Murray (JCU) over Harrison Hadley (HEID) (Dec 6-4) 
133: #4 Andrew Perelka (JCU) over Iosef Nunez (HEID) (Fall 0:00) 
141: #3 Jarrod Brezovec (JCU) over Kyle Fanson (HEID) (TF 17-2 0:00) 
149: Kale Buckiso (JCU) over #15 Dwight Parker (HEID) (MD 12-4) 
157: Carson Pottenger (HEID) over Ryan Forrest (JCU) (Dec 8-2) 
165: Patrick McGraw (JCU) over Montavious Yearby (HEID) (Dec 8-3) 
174: #14 Daniel Devera (JCU) over Nolan Hatten (HEID) (TF 18-0 0:00) 
184: Adam Medeiros (HEID) over Stefan Farian (JCU) (Dec 7-6) 
197: Jesse Kanatzar (JCU) over Da`veon Parker (HEID) (Dec 3-1) 
285: Jace Grossman (HEID) over Connor Bizjak (JCU) (Fall 0:00) (HEID Unsportsmanlike conduct -2.0)

DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
 
125: Kyle Murray battled with Heidelberg's Harrison Hadley in what was the bout of the night. The junior fell behind 2-1 following an early takedown. Murray evened up with an escape early in the second. Hadley used a takedown to sneak ahead 4-2 before Murray got a pair of points in the final minute to force overtime. In the extra time, Murray grabbed a takedown for a 6-4 decision. 

133: Andrew Perelka wasted little time in taking care of business. The #4 ranked wrestler in Division III at 133 got an early takedown and then rolled to a pin at 1:35. "My goal is to set the career pin record. I know I'm close to the record, so every match, I'm trying to come out aggressive to get the first period fall. This was our first time making weight back from Florida, so just making sure my training was good and the reps translate well into wrestling well vs. BW and at the Pete Willson Invitational the following weekend. And happy birthday to Daniel Devera!"

141: Jarrod Brezovec celebrated his fifth-year senior night with a quick conquest. After surrendering an early takedown, Brezovec took control, with a takedown and a 4-point nearfall for a 6-2 lead after one. In the second period, he got a takedown and then three straight 4-point nearfalls in less than a minute to grab a 17-2 tech fall just before the end of the second. 

149: Kale Buckiso enjoyed a huge conquest at 149. He got on the board early with a takedown, though #15 Dwight Parker halved the lead with an escape. But the freshman stayed on the offensive, as a takedown pushed him ahead, 4-2. He slipped ahead to 7-2 with an escape and a late second-period takedown. The phenom finished it off well late, conquering the #15 grappler in the country at 149, 12-4. 

157: Ryan Forrest took the stage at 157 tonight, taking the place of Luke Reicosky, who rested before the big weekend ahead. Forrest couldn't get past Carson Pottenger, as the Student Princes got on the board with an 8-6 decision. 

165: Patrick McGraw looked like his typical self with a first-period takedown. He later pushed the margin ahead to 5-1 in the second, and then kept the train rolling in the third. The energizer bunny concluded his match with an 8-3 decision, moving the needle to 21-3 JCU. 

174: Daniel Devera invigorated the crowd with a quick conquest in his showdown. He fired ahead with a flurry of offensive moves. On his 19th birthday, Devera was the star of the show. A trio of well-executed nearfalls provided an 18-0 tech fall win, to the approval of the crowd as the freshman hi-fived his teammates. 

184: Stefan Farian couldn't quite manage to squeeze past his opponent. Heidelberg's Adam Medeiros crept past the veteran with a late escape to get a 7-6 decision win. 

197: Jesse Kanatzar fought tooth and nail for a few points in the penultimate bout of the day. The Tallmadge native reigned victorious after a defensive battle, which would be the second overtime contest of the evening. The score stood at 1-1 after three periods, but Kanatzar got the needed takedown in overtime for his win. 

285: Connor Bizjak struggled to shake off the rust in his first action in a month, as Jace Grossman earned a pin win at 285. Bizjak will look to rebound this weekend. 

NEXT UP:

John Carroll will take part in the OAC Quad this upcoming weekend, with Muskingum serving as the host. JCU and Baldwin Wallace will do battle to start in a war between ranked rivals. Ohio Northern will be the middle match, with Muskingum wrapping up the day. 
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