|
Walsh Takes First, Three More Place at MSU Open
BLOOMINGTON,
Ind.- Redshirt freshman Taylor Walsh took to the mat five times at the
Michigan State Open, and had his hand raised five times as he earned
the 149-pound title. Walsh was joined on the stand by three other
Hoosier placers: Ryen Nieman (133 lbs.), Matt Ortega (141 lbs.) and
Ryan LeBlanc (174 lbs.).
Walsh made his presence known
right away, posting a 10-4 decision over the fifth-ranked 149-pounder
in the country, Eric Grajales (Michigan), in the opening round. He
followed that up with a first-period pin and back-to-back decisions to
reach the finals where he would face Michigan State’s Dan Osterman.
Osterman could be found in the national rankings last week, but he
could not get past Walsh and his championship-clinching 3-2 triumph in
the title bout.
LeBlanc and Nieman combined to go 9-2 in
the event, each earning third-place finishes. LeBlanc’s lone defeat
came to #11 Nick Purdue (Ohio), 4-2. Meanwhile, Nieman’s only loss came
to a nationally-ranked foe as well, dropping a tight 8-7 decision to
#11 Zac Stevens (Michigan) in the semifinals. Nieman closed out his day
by beating the buzzer in the first period of the third-place match,
pinning his opponent at the 2:59 mark of the opening frame.
Ortega placed in his second tournament in as many weeks, picking up a fall and major decision en route to a fifth-place showing.
Complete results can be found at www.trackwrestling.com.
The
Hoosiers switch to dual match competition on Friday, Nov. 18, hosting
the IU Quad. Indiana welcomes Central Missouri, Lindsey Wilson and
Calumet College of St. Joseph to University Gym with wrestling starting
at 5 p.m.
|
