Ashland University's wrestling team is glad this week is over.
The Eagles also have to be pleased with the way the week ended.
Following a series of two-a-day workouts after a prolonged holiday layoff, Ashland returned to action Saturday (Jan. 3) in its Wendy's Mid-Atlantic Duals, and came away with a 3-0 record.
"There's some good teams out there," Ashland head coach Josh Hutchens said of Saturday's competition. "They're non-conference, they're non-regional. We didn't wrestle our best, but they get stronger from matches like this."
Ashland defeated West Liberty (29-12), East Stroudsburg (23-15) and Olivet (21-17) – all after having to take 6-0 deficits due to forfeiting the 125-pound weight class.
Junior Michael Labry, the second-ranked wrestler in Division II at 133 pounds, went 3-0 to improve to 23-1 on the season. Labry had one pin and one major decision on the day.
Sophomore Ty Davis (141) also finished 3-0, collecting a pin and two major decisions along the way. Davis now is 12-6 this season.
"He's banged up," Hutchens said. "He gets rested up (over break), then a week of pounding and he has minor injuries. He found a way to pull out three victories."
Junior Zeb Beam (2-0) and sophomore Sean Houghton (1-0) combined to go undefeated at 157 pounds, and sophomores Kyle Burns (2-0) and Brenden Stanley (1-0) teamed up for a 3-0 effort at 165.
"Getting Burns back is great," Hutchens said. "He's cleared to wrestle, and that's what he's doing.
Both junior Kurt Schaefer (184) and sophomore Brandon O'Neill (197) finished 3-0 at their respective weights. Schaefer improves to 19-7 in 2014-15, while O'Neill ups his mark to 17-3.
Ashland now is 14-1 all-time in the Wendy's Mid-Atlantic Duals.
The Eagles return to action Friday (Jan. 9) in a dual at Pitt-Johnstown at 7 p.m. Their next home action comes on Jan. 21 in a dual with Notre Dame College, the defending Division II national champion and current top-ranked team in the country.
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