Two Ashland University wrestlers won championships on Saturday (Nov. 17) at the 21st Annual AU Open, held at Conard Field House. AU head coach Tim Dernlan saw two more of his wrestlers finish second.
The Open championships went to freshman Michael Labry (Twinsburg, Ohio) at 133 pounds and sophomore Joe Brandt (Versailles, Ohio) at 197 pounds.
Labry defeated Baldwin-Wallace's Zach Walker by technical fall in the title bout. Brandt, who is ranked first in the nation, took a 4-3 decision from Taylor Scott of Indianapolis to wrap up the championship.
At 157 pounds, freshman Zeb Beam (Holmesville, Ohio/Waynedale) advanced to the championship match before losing to Duke's Immanuel Kerr-Brown, 5-2.
Sophomore Bryson Hall (Doylestown, Ohio/Chippewa) got the silver medal at 184 pounds. Hall dropped a 3-2 verdict to Purdue's Tanner Lynde in the battle for the championship.
Freshman Brandon O'Neil (Ashland, Ohio/Clear Fork) was third at 174 pounds. Three AU wrestlers finished fifth. That trio included redshort sophomore Joey Morris (East Canton, Ohio/Canton South) at 133 pounds, junior Jake Piatt (Medina, Ohio) at 165 pounds and sophomore Kurtis Schaefer (West Salem, Ohio/Northwestern) at 285 pounds.
As usual, this event attracted wrestlers from all over the East and Midwest. This year's field numbered approximately 200 wrestlers.
The Eagles will be at Kates Gymnasium on Nov. 30 for a dual meet with Mercyhurst.
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