Roughnecks Earn Three Championships | Take Third
Kenosha, WI – The University of Findlay wrestling team competed at the Jim Koch Wisconsin Open on Saturday, Dec. 3. The event played host to wrestlers representing 15 schools. The Roughnecks were the only school to have three wrestlers win a championship at their respective weight class and finished second in the team standings with 124 points scored. Chadron St. took the title with 158.5 points.
For the second time this season, sophomore Josh Wimer earned a first place finish at 141 pounds. Wimer ended the day with a perfect 4-0 record and is now 16-4 on the year with wins in nine straight matches. After a bye in the first round, Wimer took earned a fall (4:02) over Tanner Day of Minnesota St. Mankato and advanced to the semifinal after a medical forfeit from Joshua Miller of Chadron St. In the semifinal round, Wimer dominated Christian Robertson of Wisconsin-Parkside with an 11-4 decision and then won a high-scoring championship match (15-10) over Nate Rodriguez of Maryville, who entered the event as the #5 wrestler in the nation at 141 pounds.
Josh's brother, freshman James Wimer, also had a good day on the mats as he earned a second place finish at 149 pounds. He went 2-1 on the day which included a pin of Valentino Ortiz of Triton College (0:59) and an 11-4 decision in the semifinal over Daniel Close of Minnesota St. Mankato.
The Roughnecks earned a first place finish at 165 pounds from sophomore Alonzo Turner who is ranked #7 in the country at 165 pounds. He went a perfect 4-0 on the day which included a battle against Kade Kitchens of Shorter, #5 in the nation, for the championship crown. Turner won that match with a solid 8-4 decision.
The third champion for Findlay was senior Luke Fleming, the nation's #9 in the heavyweight class. Fleming finished 4-0 with single-point victories in three of his four victories. After a 2-0 decision in the semifinal, Fleming was matched up against Donnell Walker of Maryville, currently ranked second in the nation. Fleming and Walker battled to a 3-2 decision with Fleming coming away with the championship.
Next Event
Dec. 16-17 - Midwest Classic (Indianapolis, Ind.)