LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY WRESTLING PAGE
Ashland University junior Chandler Minnard went 3-0 on the first day of the 40th Midwest Classic in Indianapolis, Ind., on Saturday (Dec. 15), and advanced to the semifinals at 141 pounds.
Minnard earned a pin in 2:33 over Caleb Craig of Kentucky Wesleyan, then followed that with an 11-9 sudden victory over Drury's Peter Kuster. In the quarterfinals, Minnard toppled Findlay's Ryan Skonieczny by a 4-0 count.
Ashland has seven grapplers in total advancing to second-day action, with six moving on with a loss – freshman Luke Wymer at 133, sophomore Carson Speelman at 149, junior Bret Romanzak at 165, junior Christian Price at 174, freshman Daniel Beemer at 184, and sophomore Tristen Weirich at 285.
- Wymer is 3-1 so far, taking a 1-0 decision against Maryville's Alex Waggoner in the first round, then coming back in the consolation round to top Kentucky Wesleyan's Nick Ornelas by a 12-0 major decision, and Sha'mun Smith of Limestone, 5-1.
- Speelman also is 3-1, taking a 13-4 major decision vs. Miles Mazik of West Liberty, then pinning Upper Iowa's Ryan Steffen in 47 seconds, and winning 4-1 over Brik Filippo of Central Oklahoma, in the consolation round.
- Romanzak won 10-1 by major decision over Gavin Grime of Bellarmine, then, in the consolation second round, topped Newberry's Nick Giantono by a 14-2 major decision. In the next consolation round, Romanzak won 5-0 over Lake Erie's Sean O'Hearon.
- Price took an 11-3 major decision from Limestone's Garrett Beam in his opener, then downed McKendree's Dan Fillipek, 8-2, before losing in the quarterfinal.
- Beemer started his weekend with a 5-1 win over Ouachita Baptist's Jordan Dieringer, then advanced to the quarters thanks to a 9-7 tiebreaker win over James Lehman of Parkside.
- Weirich began his Classic with an 11-5 decision over Blake Berryhill of Central Oklahoma, then won two consolation matches, vs. Tiffin's Chase Carter by a 19-4 tech fall and vs. Upper Iowa's Triston Westerlund by pin in five minutes.
Redshirt freshman Bryce Davis went 1-2 at 125, with his victory coming by pin in 5:42 over Chadron State's Clayton Eagle in the first round of consolations. Sophomore Chance Esmont also was 1-2 at 157, winning in his opener, 3-1, over Lindenwood's Nate Trepanier. At 197, redshirt freshman Peter Abraham went 1-2, with his victory coming in the first round of consolations in sudden victory over Adams State's Khalil Gipson.
Ashland is in 14th place as a team with 31½ points. Lake Erie College is first with 65½ points.
The second and final day of the Midwest Classic will be Sunday (Dec. 16) at 10 a.m.
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