Article and photo from the Marshall Wrestling Facebook
The Marshall Lions Wrestling Team hosted OPH on Wednesday night, December 18th, 2025, at McNary Gymnasium. The Lions had a lot of support from the good crowd that came to see if the Lions could get their first home win of this inaugural season.
The meet started with OPH taking a 12-0 lead after they received wins by forfeit at 106 (Hunter Fitts - OPH) and 113 lb. (Thomas Stigler – OPH) weight classes.
The first action of the day came at the 120 lb. weight class where Jude Hoehn faced Gunnar Fitts. Hoehn worked hard on offense the first period gaining a takedown and eight near fall points by turning Fitts to his back twice for 5-second counts. Hoehn’s offense put him up 11-0 at the end of the first period. Starting the second period, Hoehn had choice and deferred to Fitts, who chose the top position. When the second period whistle sounded, Hoehn was quickly able to reverse Fitts for (2) points. Hoehn then turned Fitts to his back, collecting another (4) near fall before getting pin at 3:10. Marshall 6; OPH 12.
Marshall then collected another (12) points with Rilee Edmonds and Lauren Richards winning by forfeit at 126 and 132 lbs., respectively. Marshall 18; OPH 12.
At 138 lbs., Marshall’s Thomas Norton faced Owen Griffen. Norton did a great job early to defend Griffen’s shots, but was ultimately unable to hold him off as Griffen got a takedown and leveraged Norton to his back where he got the fall for OPH at 1:13. This tied the team score at 18.
Next, at 144 lbs., Gavin Santagata represented the Lions against OPH’s Jude Wirey. Wirey was on the offensive in the first period getting a quick takedown. Santagata was able to escape for a point, but Wirey managed another takedown and got Santagata to his back where he got the fall for OPH at 1:19. Marshall 18; OPH 24.
The 150 lb. weight class was a double forfeit for both teams.
At 157 lbs., Marshall’s Gage Kent, faced Cole Littlejohn. Kent, one of Marshall’s two seniors this season and a first-time wrestler, has shown great growth and potential this season with a number of wins in dual meets. However, he faced a tough opponent in Littlejohn. Littlejohn started the match with a takedown and Kent battled from the bottom position fighting off several attempts to get turned to his back. However, Littlejohn was finally able to get leverage on Kent to turn him to his back and secured the pin at 1:53. This win put OPH up 30 to 18 over Marshall with a lot more wrestling to go.
At 165 lbs., Marshall’s other senior, Tevin Cribelar, faced Keaton Davis. Cribelar has also showed great grit and potential early this season battling in all his matches. Cribelar came out in the first period and secured a takedown and held Davis down the rest of the period to take a 3-0 lead to the second period. Cribelar differed choice in the second period to Davis who chose the neutral position to start. Cribelar secured another takedown to take a 6-0 lead before Davis escaped for a point. Cribelar wasted no time getting another takedown and this time put Davis on his back to secure the fall at 3:18. This energized the crowd going into the 175 lb weight class. Marshall 24; OPH 30.
At 175 lbs., the Lions Rocco Giannavola faced Jaxon Wesley. After the two battled for position, Giannavola was able to get a takedown and took Wesley to his back. Giannavola got (4) near fall points and was not able to get the fall before the period ended. This put Giannavola up 7-0 going into the second period. Wesley had choice to start the second period and deferred. Giannavola chose the bottom position. After the whistle sounded, Giannavola was finally awarded an escape before going out of bounds. This put the two wrestlers back on their feet where Giannavola worked to another takedown and with a move that took Wesley straight to his back. Giannavola would then secure the pin at 3:55. This tied the team score at 30.
The next match had Marshall’s Thomas Stafford pitted against OPH’s Brandon Buecherie at 190 lbs. At the start of the first period it looks like Buecherie would be in control as he had a quick takedown of Stafford. However, Stafford battled for an one-point escape and then got his own takedown putting him up 4-3. Stafford worked hard on the top for a turn and finally got Buecherie on his back and with 10 seconds left in the first period, he got the pin! The Marshall fans erupted as this put the Lions up 36 – 30 and put the Lions in a position to win the meet with two weight classes to wrestle.
At 215 lbs., Marshall’s Caleb Barnett faced Maddox Patterson. This was one of the best matches of the night as it was the only one to go three periods. The first period was a battle of position and neither wrestler was able to secure a takedown and the period ended 0-0. Patterson had choice in the second period and chose the neutral position. He was able to get Barnett taken down for three points, but Barnett responded with an escape and a takedown of his own before the period ended. The score after two periods was 4-3 in favor of Barnett. In the third period, Barnett chose the down position. He was able to get an escape and hold off Patterson’s offense to secure a win 5-3. This put the Lions up 39-30 going into the last match of the night.
The final match of the night at 285 lbs. had Marshall’s Lachlan Smith facing OPH’s Ethan Miller. In the first period, Miller was able to takedown Smith and get (4) near fall points. Smith battle to get off his back, but was behind 7-0 going into the second period. In the second period Smith deferred choice and Miller chose the neutral position. After the whistle blew, Smith worked his offense and was able to get a takedown on Miller. Miller then managed to escape and he responded with his own takedown before the period ended. This put Miller up 11-3. In the third period Smith chose the neutral position. After some hand fighting and good movement by Smith, he was able to get Miller down for a takedown. However, once again, Miller responded with a two-point reversal and got Smith two his back where he got the pin right before the third period ended at 5:58. This ended the meet and Lions won their first dual meet 39-36!
The Lions hope to keep the momentum going after a long Christmas break when the return to action in the West Vigo Wrestling Tournament on January 3rd. Their next dual meet with be another home meet against Paris on Wednesday January 7th at McNary gymnasium. Be sure to mark your calendars and come out an support your Marshall Lions Wresting team!