Bailey Pin Lifts No. 16 Eagles Past No. 2 Glenville State At Home, 22-20

Nearly a full year prior to Friday (Jan. 17) night, on Feb. 11, 2024, Ashland University 285-pounder Wyatt Bailey earned a pin to lift the Eagles past Grand Valley State at home, 24-22.
 
On Friday, Bailey, now a junior, played the role of closer once again, pinning Glenville State's Devan Gauldin in 5:35 to lift No. 16-ranked Ashland past the second-ranked Pioneers, 22-20. The Eagles are 7-1 in duals in 2024-25, and Glenville is 11-5.
 
"Feels great," said Bailey, now 10-8 on the season. "I've got to thank my teammates, thank my coaches. Everybody believed in me. All the work I've been putting in…it's all I can do.
 
"To be at home, to call myself an Eagle, to have these fans, everybody supporting me, it feels great."
 
Of Ashland's seven dual wins this season, four have come against nationally-ranked opponents.
 
"He came up clutch at a good time," said Eagle head coach Colt Sponseller. "Obviously, he was excited afterwards. It's fun. To go out and take care of business, that's what you need."
 
At 125 pounds, No. 12-ranked sophomore Luke Acuna continues to be the Eagles' successful leadoff hitter, as he improved to 18-6 after two takedowns, an escape and riding time led to an 8-2 win over No. 13 Colton Drousias.
 
"If you can win 25 and heavyweight, all you need is three more," Sponseller said.
 
Riding time was the difference for freshman Rylen Campbell (14-10) in a 5-4 decision over Cameron Fentress at 133, and when the Pioneers forfeited at 149, the Eagles led 12-4.
 
After Glenville State won back-to-back bouts, No. 8-ranked junior Sevriano Garza (17-2) earned a needed 19-6 major decision over Zachary Holstion to put Ashland back on top at 16-12. The Pioneers won twice in a row to take the lead – but that just set up Bailey's heroics.
  125 pounds – No. 12 Luke Acuna (AU) dec. No. 13 Colton Drousias (GSU), 8-2 (3-0 AU)
133 pounds – Rylen Campbell (AU) dec. Cameron Fentress (GSU), 5-4 (6-0 AU)
141 pounds – No. 12 Caleb Brooks (GSU) maj. dec. No. 15 Brock Durbin (AU), 11-0 (6-4 AU)
149 pounds – Hayden Kuhn (AU) won by forfeit (12-4 AU)
157 pounds – No. 8 Guy DeLeonardis (GSU) tech. fall Lance Overmyer (AU), 17-2 (12-9 AU)
165 pounds – Wiley Houser (GSU) dec. No. 5 Nate Barrett (AU), 9-5 (12-12 tie)
174 pounds – No. 8 Sevriano Garza (AU) maj. dec. Zachary Holstion (GSU), 19-6 (16-12 AU)
184 pounds – No. 6 Kyle Homet (GSU) dec. No. 13 Peyton Lemon (AU), 15-11 (16-15 AU)
197 pounds – No. 7 Nick Johnson (GSU) tech. fall No. 9 Kaine Morris (AU), 20-4 (20-16 GSU)
285 pounds – Wyatt Bailey (AU) pin Devan Gauldin (GSU), 5:35 (22-20 AU)
 
UP NEXT
Sunday (Jan. 19) at 2 p.m. at No. 6 McKendree, then the 2025 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championships on Jan. 25 at Findlay.