After Day 1 (Dec. 13) of the 36th Annual Midwest Classic in Indianapolis, Ind., Ashland University's wrestling team is assured of four placers among its eight-wrestler contingent, and still is in the running for a pair of individual championships.
Junior Michael Labry won his first three matches at 133 pounds, and is on to Sunday's (Dec. 14) semifinals. Labry pinned both Ross Bahro of Lake Erie (2:38) and Marius Kola of East Stroudsburg (6:16), then won by a 12-2 major decision over Brandon Preston of Trine in the quarterfinals.
Sophomore Luke Cramer went 2-0 at 174 pounds following a first-round bye, defeating McKendree's Luis Alba by a 4-2 count and then Lake Erie's Dylan Zivcic by an 8-1 decision in the quarterfinals.
Both Labry and Cramer can finish no worse than sixth place on Sunday.
Junior Kurt Schaefer (184 pounds) and sophomore Brandon O'Neill (197 pounds) both are alive in the consolation round and can finish no worse than eighth place on Sunday.
Schaefer went 4-1 on Saturday, winning three straight consolation-round matches and recording a pair of pins. O'Neill is 3-1 through Day 1, earning major-decision victories in his first two matches, then a third after entering the consolation round.
Sophomore Ty Davis was 2-2 at 141 pounds, and sophomore Sean Houghton (157 pounds), senior Michael Hummer (165 pounds) and sophomore Tyler Shank (285 pounds) all finished 0-2.
Ashland is tied for ninth in the team standings following Day 1, knotted with Lake Erie at 42.5 points. McKendree is first (75), followed by Maryville (73), Western State (66.5), Upper Iowa (65), Shorter (57.5), Tiffin (51.5), UNC-Pembroke (50) and Newberry (47.5).
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