No. 4-ranked Ashland University wrestling won all six of its matches at the Region II Duals in Belmont, N.C., on Friday (Jan. 26) and Saturday (Jan. 27). None of them were close, as 27 was the team's average margin of victory.
To begin the second and final day, the Eagles (10-4) topped No. 22 King, 36-3. They followed that up with a 33-12 victory over Limestone, a 28-9 win over No. 13 Newberry and a 32-13 rout of Queens.
Prior to the weekend's action, AU head coach Josh Hutchens said the Region II Duals "will say a lot" about senior Luke Cramer, ranked No. 1 at 197 pounds. Cramer went 5-0, including a win against No. 4 Luis Peguero of Coker, and is now unbeaten in 16 matches this season.
With little competition separating them from the regional and national tournaments, Cramer and No. 2 184-pound senior Jordan Murphy are seeking to become the firsts in program history to complete a season as undefeated national champions. Murphy is 17-0, as he was the only Eagle to win six matches in Belmont.
Sophomore Bret Romanzak (30-3) picked up two more wins at 165 on Saturday to expand his team-leading season total. Michael Labry, a 2017 national champion that graduated in May, led Ashland last season with 35 wins.
To add to the team's success, 125-pound junior Sebastian Vidika won two more matches by technical fall on Day 2. He won four matches at the duals by a combined score of 64-0.
Sophomore Christian Price (20-8 at 174) won three matches on the second day.
Also chipping in with two wins and no losses on Saturday were senior Bob Mason (13-4 at 141), junior Deaken McCoy (13-8 at 285) and freshmen Dustin Marteney (16-7 at 149/157) and Cameron Jenkins (5-4 at 165).
The Eagles, now on an eight-dual win streak, return home Saturday (Feb. 3) to face Tiffin in their final home dual of the season.
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