No matter the sport, it is never easy when a team spots an opponent 12 points.

John Carroll dealt with that scenario all weekend at the 2010 Budd Whitehill Duals, surviving a rough start to finish with an even 2-2 record.

Due to injuries that forced the coaching staff to forfeit 125 and 133 pounds, the Blue Streaks began three of their four matches automatically trailing 12-0 before a bout was actually contested.

JCU began the dual meet tournament Friday morning by dropping a 31-12 decision to host Lycoming. In the eight bouts wrestled, the Blue Streaks managed wins by David Malkus at 141, Ben Adams at 184, Jim Nemunaitis at 197 and Alec Barker at 285.

A similar situation developed against Ohio Athletic Conference rival Ohio Northern. Win by Malkus (141), Connor Suba (149) and Adams (184) could not offset seven losses in a 36-9 setback to the Polar Bears.

In their final match on Friday, the Blue Streaks rebounded from their annointed 12-0 deficit to defeat Hunter, 28-15. John Carroll won seven of the eight contested matches, led by pins from Sean Gill (165) and Barker (285) and a major decision by Adams (184).

In their final match, held Saturday afternoon, JCU faced league foe Muskingum. Both teams had to take forfeits at 125 and 133, meaning for the first time all weekend, John Carroll would take to the mat in its first match tied 0-0. The Blue Streaks would cruise to a 22-8 victory by winning six of the final eight matches. Another Adams major decision at 184 and a pin by Nemunaitis at 197 paced the Streaks.

Malkus and Adams finished the competition undefeated at 4-0, while Nemunaitis and Barker ended the weekend with a record of 3-1. Matt Narducci, in limited duty, went 2-0 at 149 pounds.

Lycoming 31, John Carroll 12
125: Walker Faison (LC) won by forfeit
133: Terrell Nixon (LC) won by forfeit
141: David Malkus (JCU) dec. Mike Maurer (LC) 9-3
149: Isaiah Britton (LC) major dec. Connor Suba (JCU) 13-4
157: Zachary Frederick (LC) pinned Vincent Pizzuli (JCU) 1:27
165: Christopher Dahlheimer (LC) pinned Sean Gill (JCU) 1:57
174: Kyle Crouthamel (LC) dec. Travis Hammer (JCU) 6-3
184: Ben Adams (JCU) dec. Troy Hayre (LC) 5-3
197: James Nemunaitis (JCU) dec. Russel Korbul (LC) overtime tiebreaker
285: Alec Barker (JCU) dec. Zach Eckstrom (LC) 3-2

Ohio Northern 36, John Carroll 9
125: Louis Piszker (ONU) won by forfeit
133: Jeremy Jones (ONU) won by forfeit
141: Davis Malkus (JCU) dec. Garret Freeman (ONU) 9-4
149: Connor Suba (JCU) dec. Michael Letcher (ONU) 10-6
157: Luke Miller (ONU) pinned Ryan Pischel (JCU) 4:18
165: William Painter (ONU) dec. Sean Gill (JCU) 10-5
174: Kyle Kwiat (ONU) pinned Travis Hammer (JCU) 1:21
184: Ben Adams (JCU) dec. Matthew Alexander (ONU) 4-2
197: David Jones (ONU) dec. James Nemunaitis (JCU) 4-2
285: Justin Southwick (ONU) pinned Alec Barker (JCU) 4:06

John Carroll 28, Hunter 15
125: Ariel Guerrero (HC) won by forfeit
133: Jimmy Mustakis (HC) won by forfeit
141: David Malkus (JCU) dec. Sean Messina (HC) 9-5
149: Matt Narducci (JCU) dec. Dane Davis (HC) 7-5
157: Vinny Pizzuli (JCU) dec. Vitaly Simkin (HC) 4-0
165: Sean Gill (JCU) pinned Jesse Capello (HC) 4:53
174: Emman Sarwari (HC) dec. Travis Hammer (JCU) 7-3
184: Ben Adams (JCU) major dec. RJ Klotz (HC) 14-5
197: Jim Nemunaitis (JCU) dec. Anthony Daly (HC) 3-1
285: Alec Barker (JCU) pinned Dan Heydebrand (HC) 1:16
 
John Carroll 22, Muskingum 8
125: Both teams forfeit
133: Both teams forfeit
141: David Malkus (JCU) dec. Michael Halko (MC) 3-2
149: Matt Narducci (JCU) dec. Kenneth Poland (MC) 5-0
157: Ralph Geesey (MC) major dec. Vincent Pizzuli (8-0)
165: Adam Harris (MC) major dec. Sean Gill (JCU) 15-6
174: Travis Hammer (JCU) dec. Jacob Getto (MC) 2-1
184: Ben Adams (JCU) major dec. Daniel Dunn (MC) 13-1
197: James Nemunaitis (JCU) pinned Zach Campbell (MC) 1:14
285: Alec Barker (JCU) dec. Joshua Jackson (MC) 6-2