Wrestling Places Six Wrestlers and Takes Third as a Team in Albion

(ALBION, Mich.)-The Thomas More Saints sent 15 wrestlers and took third place as a team at the Albion College Invitational on Sunday (Nov 19). The Saints claimed 3 individual titles along with a runner-up, a 3rd place, and a 5th place finish.

• Returning 3-time national finalist, No. 8 ranked fifth year Ryan Moore (Crittenden, Ky./Walton-Verona), continued his dominance by making quick work of the field and claiming another tournament championship at 149 lbs. Moore won by tech fall (15-0) over Austin Abitua of Aurora University to start his tournament. In his quarterfinals match, Moore picked up a fall (1:58) over Bryce Burst of Southwestern Michigan. Moore then won by pin in the semifinals over John Carroll's Kyle Bizjak. Moore won his final match in just under a minute (Fall 0:49) over Albions' Max Honiss to take 1st at 149 lbs.
• Sophomore 141, Cole Thomas (Walton, Ky./Ryle) cruised to a first-place finish picking up 3 falls along the way. Thomas pinned Jake Penzato of Aurora University at 1:43 in the quarters. In his semifinal match, Thomas defeated Ian Boden by fall (3:35) to advance to the finals. Thomas then kept the same pattern and pinned host Albions' Austin Matheney at 3:41 to claim the 141lb title.
• Senior Hwt, No. 8 ranked Daulton Mayer (Mentor, Ky./Walton-Verona), continued his consecutive pin streak taking it to 9 straight matches with a victory by fall. Mayer made quick work of his first 3 opponents, pinning them all in just about a minute. Joe Shoup of Ohio Wesleyan (1:05), Joseph Pindea of Dubuque (0:54), and Christopher Krum of Albion (0:46). Mayer's semifinal match took just a little longer but still pinning his opponent Justin Matson of Dubuque at 2:46. 22 seconds is all it took for Mayer in his 1st place match against Cam'ron Harper of Aurora University. Mayer picks up another tournament victory for the Saints.
• Returning national qualifier, No. 19th ranked junior Kailan Keith (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) took 2nd place at 157 lbs. Keith picked up a fall (0:53) over Gabe Gailoto of John Carroll in his first match. After picking up a 12-3 victory over Justin Gorman of Albion in his quarterfinal match, Keith went on to pin Zaren Anderson of Carthage College at 1:01 to make it to the finals. Keith dropped his final match by tech fall (17-0) to Patrick McGraw of John Carroll giving him a second-place finish.
• Junior 174lb, Jahmon Spiller (Saginaw, Mich./Brownsburg), took 3rd place going 4-1 on the day. Spiller won by major decision (19-7) over Jared Checkley of Southwestern Michigan in his first match. Spiller then lost a close one (5-3) to Julius Polk of Rochester University, in his quarterfinal match. Spiller fought back to win 3 straight matches with victories over Othman Taha of Ohio Wesleyan (MD 9-1), Daniel Devera (Inj. 0:00), and Alonzo Smiley of Dubuque by way of tech fall (20-4) to claim his 3rd place finish.
• Freshman 174lbs, Liam Schram (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon), had a very impressive tournament placing 5th on a 4-2 record. Schram won his first two matches, one by fall over Andrew Hartman of Southwestern Michigan (3:41) and the other by tech fall over David Eagle of Rochester (19-2). Schram would drop his quarterfinal match to Daniel Devera of John Carroll (TF 15-0). In the blood round, Schram picked up a 14-7 victory over Aiden Ashburn of John Carroll to solidify a spot on the podium. He would drop his next match by 1 point (8-7) to Alonzo Smiley of Dubuque sending him to the 5th/6th place match where he picked up a MFF win over Daniel Devera to take 5th.
• Freshman Hunter Issacs (Walton, Ky.) went 2-2, picking up a fall (1:44) over Xavier Watts Of Henry Ford College in round 1. After dropping his second match, Issacs picked up a well-earned 12-10 victory over River Rodgers of Carthage College. His tournament was cut short after his second loss to Wyatt Mathews of Mott Community College, 14-8.
• Freshman 157lbs, Dana Bishop (Owensboro, Ky./Apollo), added 1 win to his record today. After dropping his first match to Evan Atchley of Dubuque (TF 16-1), Bishop fought hard to defeat Zach Zoladz of John Caroll by a score of 4-2 in cons. round 2. Bishop dropped his next match to Rico Brown of Rochester by a score of 16-3.
• Freshman 197lb Wade Metting (Crestwood, Ky./Oldham County) lost his first match by a score of 13-8 to Jase Grundy of Mott Community College. Metting faced fellow Saint, Zach Watson, in round 2 of the consolation bracket and lost a close one 8-5.
• Junior HWT Chase Emmert (Aurora, Ind./South Dearborn) dropped his first match of the day to Evan Foreman by fall (2:38). Emmert rebounded and earned a 4-1 victory in the cons. bracket over Stephos Georgiou of Cornerstone. But, he was knocked out of the tournament by Joeseph Pineda of Dubuque, by fall (0:38).
• Sophomore 157lb, Taijon Span (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) lost 2 very close matches today. In champ. round 1, Span came up just short by a score of 4-2 to Kaleb Gettings of Mott Community College. In cons. round 2, he lost 7-3 to Gabe Galioto of John Carroll.
• Sophomore 165lbs, Joey Hunt (Crescent Springs, Ky./Covington Catholic) had a tough day losing both of his matches. In champ. round 1 Hunt lost by fall (1:02) to Ryan Forrest of John Carroll. After receiving a bye in cons. round 2 Hunt lost to James Buurma of Albion by fall (2:41) in cons. round 3.
• Junior 165lbs, Caleb Lake (Chillicothe, Ohio/Chillicothe) went 1-2 on the day picking up a quick fall (0:43) in champ. round 2 over Zander Bradsher of Cleary University. He then dropped his Quarterfinals match to John Carroll's, Willis Bronson, by fall (4:40). In cons. round 3, Lake had a tough match against Christian Gilbert of Carthage College, losing that one by fall (2:02).
• Sophomore 197, Zach Watson (Verona, Ky./Walton-Verona) went 1-2 on the day, losing his first match by a major decision (11-3) to Latham Perry of Rochester University. Watson met a familiar face in round 2 of the consultation bracket. He beat teammate, Wade Metting, 8-5, to move on in the tourney. Watson would lose his next match to Bode Brown of Albion, 17-3.
• Sophomore 184, Zavier Campsey (Athens, Ohio/Athens) had a solid day finishing with a 2-2 record. After losing a close match in round 1, Campsey picked up 2 straight falls. One over Jon Reini of Henry Ford College and another over Luke Guerra of Southwestern Michigan both by a time of 1:25. In his cons. round 4 match, Kyus Root of Aurora University won by fall (0:26) over Campsey, bringing his tournament to an end.

The Saints take some time off for the holiday and will return on Wednesday, November 29 at 7:00 P.M. in Tiffin, Ohio as they open up their conference and DII schedule against #12 Tiffin.