ASHLAND, OH – West Liberty senior standout JD Ramsey outlasted Ashland’s Jacob Southwick in a battle of nationally-ranked 285-pounders Tuesday night to lift the No. 16 Hilltoppers to a 21-17 victory against No. 10 Ashland on the Eagles’ mat.
Back-to-back wins by 157-pounder Jarrod Shaw and 165-pounder Jordon Nolan pushed West Liberty (12-6) out to what appeared to be a comfortable 18-8 lead heading into the final four matches of the evening.
Ashland (12-3) had other plans as the host Eagles answered with decisions at 174, 184 and 197 to set the stage for what turned out to be a 285-pound classic.
The Hilltoppers were clinging to an 18-17 lead when Ramsey, a two-time national qualifier currently ranked No. 7 nationally at 285, stepped onto the mat against Southwick, the nation’s No. 8-ranked heavyweight.
What followed were 11 minutes of high-tension drama in a marathon overtime match that went to Ramsey by the narrowest of margins, an 11-second riding time edge, clinching the WLU victory.
Not to be overlooked in the Hilltopper triumph were the falls scored by Dillon Nolte at 133 pounds and Nick Wykoff at 141 which helped the visitors jump out to the early lead.
Tuesday’s win avenged a 34-7 loss to Ashland earlier this season at the Wendy’s Mid-Atlantic Duals and gives Coach Brian Davis’s Black and Gold some well-earned momentum heading into next week’s NCAA Division II Super Region One championships.
The regional tournament will be hosted by UNC-Pembroke on Feb. 24-25.
No. 16 West Liberty 21, No. 10 Ashland 17
- 125: Brandon Davis (AU) md. Joe Wagstaff, 16-5
- 133: Dillon Nolte (WLU) p. Adli Edwards, 2:09
- 141: Nick Wykoff (WLU) p. Dan Mandara, 3:34
- 149: Marc Hoff (AU) md. A.J. Gavin, 15-7
- 157: Jarrod Shaw (WLU) d. Dan Genetin, 11-5
- 165: Jordon Nolan (WLU) d. Tommie Graszi, 8-5
- 174: Bryson Hall (AU) d. Matt Littleton, 7-5
- 184: Kurt Schaefer (AU) d. Derrick Williams, 4-1
- 197: Joe Brandt (AU) d. Jake Donley, 3-2
- 285: JD Ramsey (WLU) d. Jacob Southwick, 3-2 (OT)
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