This past week marked a somewhat difficult stretch for the Case Western Reserve University wrestling team. On Wednesday, Jan. 15, the Spartans held their Senior Night, where the team honored fourth-years Isaac Collier, Jacob Frisch, Alec Hoover and Andrew Hoover. The night featured dual matches against Ohio Wesleyan University and Otterbein University.

The night started out well for the Spartans, who mounted an impressive comeback against the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops. Second-year Adam Kates gave CWRU an early lead, putting the Spartans up 3-0 with a decision over Jacob Dehart. However, Ohio Wesleyan struck back with a major decision and pin to seize a comfortable 10-3 lead. Fourth-year Andrew Hoover whittled the Spartans’ deficit down to one with a pin over the Battling Bishops’ Max Beard. Ohio Wesleyan built on their lead with a major decision, but fourth-year Isaac Collier pinned Caleb Blake in under two minutes to reclaim the lead for the Spartans. Unfortunately, the Battling Bishops quickly erased the Spartans’ 15-14 lead with back-to-back pins. Now trailing 26-15, the Spartans tacked on another six points as Ohio Wesleyan forfeited the matchup against third-year Brian Kent. Entering the final matchup of the dual match, the Spartans needed a pin to win. First-year Connor Forrest proved he had exactly that in store for Ohio Wesleyan’s Nathan Scott. The successful pin added six points to the Spartans’ total and sealed the 27-26 comeback. With this win, the Spartans improved to two wins and five losses on the season while keeping Ohio Wesleyan winless.

Unfortunately for the Spartans, the second dual match of the night proved to be much tougher. The two teams started out neck and neck and the Spartans maintained the lead for three of the first four matchups against the Otterbein Cardinals. However, after fourth-year Andrew Hoover pinned Otterbein’s Jacob Williams in the fourth matchup to give the Spartans a 12-9 lead, the Cardinals came back and ran away with the match. A technical fall followed by three straight pins put the Spartans at a massive disadvantage. Trailing 32-12, third-year Brian Kent’s decision over Otterbein’s Luke Hess tacked on three points for the Spartans. With a pin in the final matchup of the dual match, Otterbein tallied their 13th win of the season while delivering a crushing 38-15 loss to the Spartans.

Three days later, the CWRU wrestling team traveled to Elmhurst, Illinois for the Al Hanke Invitational, hosted by the Elmhurst College Bluejays. After placing seventh among the 12 teams invited, the Spartans returned home to prepare for their next big event. They will host the Dr. Si Ostrach Meet in the Horsburgh Gymnasium this coming Saturday, Jan. 25, where they will face Washington & Jefferson College, Waynesburg University, Adrian College and Kent State University at Tuscarawas.