Roughnecks Host Findlay Open | Reed Wins 174 Bracket
Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay wrestling team played host to the annual Findlay Open on Saturday, Nov. 19 in the Malcolm Athletic Center inside the Koehler Fitness Center on UF's campus. The event saw more than 200 athletes from 12 collegiate teams converge on Northwest Ohio for one of the biggest open tournaments in the country. Two Division I programs were represented as well as four top-25 Division II programs including #3 West Liberty, #6 Indianapolis, #14 Wisconsin-Parkside, and #15 Tiffin.
The Roughnecks entered 24 athletes in the competition, six of which would place in the top six of their respective weight class.
Findlay's top finisher on the day was senior Hunter Reed who won the 174-pound bracket with a perfect run, winning all four of his bouts on the day. After a bye in the first round, Reed breezed past Luke Hooker (Wisconsin-Parkside), pinning his opponent in just 2:40. In the quarterfinal matchup, Reed then dominated again, winning by tech fall (16-0) over Griff Bekish (Indiana Tech). Next up was Chance Morgan (West Liberty) in the semifinals. No problem for Findlay's standout senior as he won by major decision (10-1). In the championship battle, Reed used a first period takedown and a nearfall in the second period to springboard him to another convincing victory, a 10-5 win over Brody Hemauer (Wisconsin-Parkside) to take the title.
Junior Gavin Ritter took part in the 133-pound bracket and, after a bye in the first round, used a pair of first-period takedowns to ultimately win a tightly-contested 4-3 decision. His second round battle wasn't close as he breezed past Tiffin's Lance Crawford. After a loss in the semifinals, Ritter won the consolation semis with a 9-5 decision over Landen Hacker (Kent State). He then won by forfeit in the third-place match.
In the 157-pound bracket, junior Logan Sanom suffered a suffered a 10-8 decision in the first round, but then went on a tear, winning six consecutive matches. After a bye and a win by injury, Sanom used a pair of nearfalls to pick up a 13-7 victory over Toby Abbott (West Libterty). He then defeated Dillon Carlson (Kent State) 8-3 and later, despite trailing through one period, took down Nick Carbone (Ashland) by a 6-5 decision. Sanom's next two matchups ended via medical forfeit as the junior took third place.
At 197 pounds, junior Jacob Kowalski won his second-round matchup with a pin against Baline Kubasta (Indiana Tech) in just 2:15 and followed that up with a pin against Parker Bentley (West Liberty) in even less time, using just 33 seconds to secure the win. After a loss in the semifinal against Derek Blubaugh (Indianapolis), who is ranked second in the country, Kowalski picked up another pin, needing just 43 seconds to defeat Brett Wittmann (Clarion). In his third place match, he won by no contest to secure bronze at 197 pounds.
Fourth place in the 165-pound bracket was secured by senior Alex Isbrandt, picking up 13.5 points for Findlay. A bye in the opening round matched Isbrandt up with Jaden Reagle (Mercyhurst), who Isbrandt defeated 11-2. Tied 1-1 with less than a minute remaining, Isbrandt secured a takedown with 57 seconds remaining to defeat his teammate Andrew Knick by a score of 3-1. A loss sent Isbrandt to the consolation semis where he defeated teammate Jackson Pettigrew in overtime, picking up a sudden victory, 3-1. In the third place match, Isbrandt was defeated 4-2 by Owen Zablocki (Indianapolis) to takefourth.
Also in the 165-pound bracket, junior Jackson Pettigrew defeated Ronnie Jones (Mercyhurst) 11-4 and followed that with a 7-2 decision over Samuel LaFaso (Tiffin). A loss in the quarterfinals send Pettigrew to the consolation where he won his next two bouts, the first by fall (5:26) and the next with a 3-2 decision over teammate Kenny Snyder. Pettigrew lost his final two matchups of the day to claim sixth place.
The Roughnecks will be back in action on Saturday, Dec. 3 with a trip to Kenosha, Wisconsin for the Wisconsin Open.