After not wrestling at home since November 19, JCU looked forward to a return home to reverse a recent slide in dual meets.

There would be little cause for celebration at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center on Tuesday night, as John Carroll fell to the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern, 26-15.

Ohio Northern gained the early advantage with victories in the 125 and 133 weight classes, going up 6-0.

Freshman Jarrod Brezovec got the Blue Streaks going in the right direction with a pin in the third period at 141 pounds. Junior Jarrad Lasko kept the momentum at 149 pounds, as he never trailed en route to an 8-6 win.  At the time, John Carroll held a 9-6 advantage.

The Polar Bears would bounce right back at 157 with a 5-2 decision to knot the score at 9-9.

In a pivotal match at 165, Ohio Northern's Seth Meyer and John Carroll's Thomas McNulty were involved in a close battle with Meyer leading 5-3. In a scramble near the edge of the mat with just over one minute remaining, McNulty pulled up in pain and could not continue, giving the Polar Bears a six-point win.

A late takedown by Clayton Davidson was the difference at 174 as he defeated JCU senior Blake Dixon, 3-0.

Following a win at 184 that put Ohio Northern up 21-9, senior Russ Porter brought life back to the Blue Streaks with a pin to make the score 21-15, but a tech fall by the Polar Bears' nationally ranked Nate Backaskey at 285 sealed the Blue Streaks fate.

The loss puts JCU at 5-5 overall and 0-3 in the OAC, while Ohio Northern improves to 7-9 overall and 1-2 in league dual meets.

The Blue Streaks will stay in University Heights for their next match as the Purple Raiders of Mount Union will come to the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center on January 23. That match will begin at 7:30 pm.

Results:
125: Avory Winans (ONU) def. Alex Reyes (JCU) by decision, 8-4
133: Brad Tatom (ONU) def. Dom Devine (JCU) by decision, 9-5
141: Jarrod Brezovec (JCU) def. Noah Mattin (ONU) by fall, 5:54
149: Jarrad Lasko (JCU) def. Schuyler Capella (ONU) by decision, 8-6
157: Gavin Nelson (ONU) def. Austin Victor (JCU) by decision, 5-2
165: Seth Meyer (ONU) def. Thomas McNulty (JCU) by injury default, 5:54
174: Clayton Davidson (ONU) def. Blake Dixon (JCU) by decision, 3-0
184: Alex Bair (ONU) def.  Jimmy Suhayda (JCU) by decision, 8-4
197: Russ Porter (JCU) def. Austin Windle (ONU) by fall, 4:15
285: Nate Barcaskey (ONU) def. Bryce Carmichael (JCU) by tech. fall, 16-0 (2:06)