The nationally-ranked Wabash wrestling team scored wins in eight out of ten matches for a 54-6 home victory Thursday night over the College of Mount St. Joseph.

The Little Giants picked up four pins, starting with number-one ranked Riley Lefever at 184 pounds. Lefever stuck Tyler Ray at the 2:05 of their match for his 27th victory of the year. Brett Thumm (video left) battled for nearly three periods on his way to a pin against Nathan Islamovsky at 197 pounds.

After Wabash received a pair of forfeits for Tommy Poynter at 125 pounds and Robbie Carter at 133 pounds --- with Mount St. Joseph wins on either side --- the Little Giants closed out the match. Nick Bova scored a pin 54 seconds into his 149-pound bout, followed by a pin by fourth-ranked Reece Lefever at 157 pounds.

Ethan Farmer began the night with an 8-4 victory at 174 pounds facing Nick Manning. Josh Sampson, ranked eighth at 165, received the final forfeit of the evening.

Wabash, ranked eighth as a team by the National Wrestling Coaches Association and ninth in th lates d3wrestle.com listings, honored fall semester Dean's List students Allen Betts, John Penn, Paul Snyder, along with Poynter and Sampson. Reece Lefever and Conner Lefever were both recognized as NWCA Scholar All-Americans, as well.

"We just need to fine tune a few things over these next few weeks in preparation for the NCAA Regional," Head Coach Brian Anderson said. "We'll break down video, but really keeping our guys healthy is the number one item. When you get to the national tournament we always tell our team that everyone is banged up somewhere. We're just trying to get rid of the little nagging injuries as much as possible so everyone is healthy as possible heading into regionals."

The Little Giants will travel to Trine University for their final dual meet of the season next Thursday before serving as the host school for the Mid-States Wrestling Conference Tournament February 15. Two weeks later Wabash will be the site for the Midwest Wrestling Regional.

View photos from match.

#8/#9 Wabash College 45, Mount St. Joseph 6
 
174 -       Ethan Farmer (WAB) won 8-4 over Nick Manning (MSJ)

184 -       Riley Lefever (WAB) won by pin (2:05) over Tyler Ray (MSJ)

197 -       Brett Thumm (WAB) won by pin (6:38) over Nathan Islamovsky (MSJ)

285 -       Sean Brooks (MSJ) won 6-1 in 2nd tb over Tré Taylor (WAB)

125 -       Tommy Poynter (WAB) won by forfeit

133 -       Robbie Carter (WAB) won by forfeit

141 -       Wayne Black (MSJ) won 9-3 over Pat Parham (WAB)
             
149 -       Nick Bova (WAB) won by pin (0:54) over Luis Godines (MSJ)

157 -       Reece Lefever (WAB) won by pin (1:07) over Joseph Kammerer (MSJ)
 
165 -       Josh Sampson (WAB) won by forfeit


Exhibition Match
 
197 -       Drew Songer (WAB) won by pin (2:15) over Gabe Stiver (MSJ)