On a night that six seniors from the John Carroll University wrestling program were recognized for their efforts over the past four seasons, the Blue Streaks were able to celebrate a 25-21 victory.

Not that Otterbein didn't do its best to crash the party.

John Carroll got on the board quick after Andrew Perelka moved his impressive freshman record to 16-2 by way of forfeit and gave the Blue Streaks a 6-0 lead.  Then Spencer Dusi would fall 6-3 to Jackson Lakso of Otterbein, bringing the score to 6-3.

Over the next four matches, the Blue Streaks middle weights would enforce their dominance.  Jarrod Brezovec regained the momentum after winning 7-2 at 141 pounds.

Next up was one of three seniors who competed this evening. Jarrad Lasko turned up the volume with a pin in the second period at 149 pounds, bringing the total match score to 15-3.

After the Lasko pin, Danny Novak would beat his opponent by scoring nine of the final ten points of the match for an 11-3 major decision at 157 pounds.

Senior Sam Gross pinned his opponent in 4:26 at 167 pounds, bringing the team score to a nearly insurmountable 25-3 advantage in favor of the Blue Streaks.. With that win, Gross picked up his 20th win of the season.

The party was still going on for most of the 174-pound match. Senior Jimmy Suhayda of the Blue Streaks was beating his opponent Donny Didion by a score of 4-2 before the tide would turn in the final minute of the match. Didion would pin Suhayda to claim a stunning six points for Otterbein, and suddenly, the Cardinals had life. The visitors trailed 25-9 with some of their best wrestlers waiting in the final three weight classes.

Christian Hipsher would be the unsung hero of the night at 184. Even though Hipsher lost, he secured the team win for the Blue Streaks by fighting to avoid the major decision (or worse) that would have given Otterbein a mathematical opportunity to tie or win.

Assistant coach Chad Rhoades commented that "the guys were looking really good in Florida and they carried the momentum through to tonight with the win."  Rhoades also noted that "we fired on all cylinders and turned the volume up."

With the win, John Carroll improved to 7-2 overall and 2-1 in the OAC.

The next time that the Blue Streaks will take the mats will be Saturday at 10 and 11:30 a.m.  At 10 the Blue Streaks will match up against Mount Union, who is ranked #7 in the nation for Division III wrestling. At 11:30 a.m., JCU is scheduled to square off with longtime league Ohio Northern.  Both matches will be at the DeCarlo Varsity Center.

John Carroll 25, Otterbein 21
25: Andrew Perelka (JCU), won by forfeit;  133: Jackson Lakso (OTT) over Spencer Dusi, 6-3;  141: Jarrod Brezovec (JCU) over Santino DiSabato, 7-2;  149: Jarrad Lasko (JCU) over Michael Duzzny, Fall 3:56;  157: Daniel Novak (JCU) over Joey Bradberry, 11-3;  165: Sam Gross (JCU) over Dylan Gray, Fall 4:22;  174: Donny Didion (OTT) over Jimmy Suhayda, Fall 6:26;  184: Jarrod Setliff (OTT) over Christian Hipsher; 7-1;  197: Corbin Bunsold (OTT) over Darrell Lane, Fall 1:45;  285: Drew Kasper (OTT) over Luca Santillo, 7-1