DEFIANCE, Ohio--The Adrian College men's wrestling team spotted host Defiance College 14 points before rallying with 25 unanswered points to come back and sting the Yellow Jackets, 25-14, in non-conference action here at the Karl H. Weaner Center. 

With the win, Adrian improves to 8-3 and sets a modern-day school record for wins in a season after men's wrestling was reinstated as a varsity sport for the 2015-16 campaign. Defiance drops to 2-8 overall. The eight wins also mark the most by Adrian since the 1976-77 squad went 8-7 and the Bulldogs also have their best record since 1967-68 (8-2), according to available files.

Alexander Smith highlighted the Yellow Jackets' quick start with a pinfall at 141 pounds in 1 minute and 53 seconds to cap a 14-0 run to start the match.

But sophomore Noah Nieman put Adrian on the scoreboard to ignite the rally, doubling up on Cortez Bradley, 12-6, at 149. At 157, classmate Ethan Garcia also won a decision--by four points--to close the gap 14-6.

Freshman Zach Altman breezed past Tyler Houston in a 15-4 major decision at 165 that made the score 14-10. Classmate Derick Duvall won an 18-14 thriller over Shannon Legge at 174 to pull the Bulldogs within one, 14-13.

Sophomore Bryant Moore put Adrian ahead for good after his 7-5 decision over Hunter McNutt at 184. The Bulldogs took their first lead of the night at 16-14.

Senior Zach Reynolds gave the visitors some insurance with an identical two-point decision, 6-4, over Mason Morris at 197, extending the advantage to 19-14.

Freshman heavyweight Isaiah Espinoza won by forfeit to account for Adrian's final points.

With its dual-match season complete, Adrian returns to the mat on Saturday (9 a.m.) for the Mid-States Conference Championships hosted by Alma College in Alma, Mich.

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