Five Roughnecks Earn Spots in Semifinals
Indianapolis, Ind. – The University of Findlay wrestling team is currently in second place at the 39th Annual Midwest Classic with a team score of 59.5. The competition takes place over two days, Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 16-17. Findlay has seven athletes who remain alive in their respective brackets and will participate on Sunday, five of which were undefeated on the first day.
One of those undefeated wrestlers was junior Alonzo Turner, ranked fourth in the nation at 165 pounds. Tuner began with an 8-4 decision over Richard Screptock (Tiffin) and later defeated Tre Vaughn Craig (Wisconsin-Parkside) in a match that ended in disqualification. Turner finished his day with a 4-2 sudden victory over John Anderson (Maryville). Turner earned 11.00 points for the Roughnecks and will take on no. 6 Nick Vandermeer (Lake Erie) in the bracket's semifinal.
Also reaching a bracket semifinal is sophomore Nate Vandermeer who earned 12.00 points for the Roughnecks in the 174-pound bracket with wins over two nationally ranked opponents. Vandermeer started his day with a 17-2 tech fall victory over Melvin Nimely (Emmanuel) and then came back with another tech fall victory, 18-2, over no. 8 Miguel Barreras (Central Oklahoma). Findlay's sophomore earned a spot in the semifinal with a 9-5 decision over no. 10 Christian Price (Ashland).
Senior Bradley Metz went 2-0 and earned Findlay 9.00 points in the 184-pound bracket. After an opening round bye, Metz, ranked no. 7 in the nation, won an 8-3 decision over Dan Fillipek (McKendree) and later picked up a 4-1 quarterfinal victory over Brody Conner (UIndy). Metz will take on no. 8 Tyler Hughes (Lake Erie) in tomorrow's semifinal.
Also going 2-0 was senior Armani Robinson who, after a first round bye, won his first bout, a tightly contested 2-1 tiebreaker over Jared Rennick (Drury). In his quarterfinal, Robinson took down Luis Peguero (Coker) 3-1 in sudden victory setting up a date with no. 11 Konnor Scmidt (Western State) in tomorrow's semifinal.
Findlay's big man, senior Mimmo Lytle, went 3-0 on the day and has a spot in the 285-pound semifinal. Lytle, ranked no. 9 in the nation, began his day with a 5-0 shutout of Jordan Mangnuson (Minn. St. Moorhead) and later won in sudden victory, 5-3, over Tyvon Leacock (Coker). Lytle earned his spot in the semifinal with a 2-1 tie-breaker win over no. 10 Deaken McCoy (Ashland).
At 149 pounds, junior Josh Wimer finished the day with a 3-1 record and scored 3.00 points for the Roughnecks. Wimer began his day with an 11-3 victory over JJ Diven (Ashland) before losing 9-3 in the second round to Damian Penichet (Upper Iowa) who is ranked no. 9 in the nation. Wimer came back with a 6-4 decision over JD Chenoweth (Western St. Colorado) and finished his day with a 9-5 victory over Austin Shaw (Seton Hill). Wimer will take on no. 5 Logan Grass (Mercyhurst) to begin his day tomorrow.
Josh's brother, sophomore James Wimer, also finished 3-1 and scored 3.00 points in the 157-pound bracket. Wimer began his day with a 15-3 major decision victory but was pinned in the second round to fall into the consolation bracket. He then won 8-3 over Billy Holtan (Northern State) and earned a spot in Sunday's competition with a 4-1 decision over Kain Rust (Marian).