Ashland - The University of Findlay wrestling team, ranked #19 in the nation, claimed the first ever Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship on Sunday, Feb. 5 in Ashland, Ohio.
The Roughnecks defeated Lake Erie 20-15, won 38-7 over Tiffin and then defeated #12 Ashland by a score of 21-9 to finish the event with a 3-0 record.
Michael Lybarger was named the GLIAC Wrestler of the Year while Shawn Nelson took home GLIAC Coach of the Year honors.
Individually, Ben Sergent, Chris Andrews, Mason True, Lybarger, Adam Walters and Ashton Brown were each named first team all-GLIAC while Nick Wiesjahn, Jeremy Espinoza and Andrew Tumlin were tabbed second team all-conference.
Sergent, Lybarger, Walters and Brown each finished the event with perfect records.
Sergent, the eighth-ranked wrestler in the 125-pound weight class, started the meet with an 11-1 win over Lake Erie's Austin Gillihan. After a forfeit win, Sergent claimed a 4-3 win over Ashland's Brandon Davis.
Lybarger, the second-ranked wrestler in the 174-pound weight class, won 5-0 over the Storm's Zev Green, pinned Tiffin's Jacob Cramer in 4:42 and concluded the event with a 3-1 win over the Eagles' Bryson Hall.
Lybarger, a national champion last year in the 165-pound weight class, now has 108 career wins, the sixth best total all-time at UF.
Walters, the sixth-ranked wrestler in the 184-pound weight class, won 6-2 over Lake Erie's Josh Linden, 7-4 over Tiffin's Kevin Christman and 7-5 over Kurt Schaefer of Ashland.
Brown won 9-4 against Lake Erie's Mike Samijlenko, won by forfeit against Tiffin and was victorious by a score of 7-4 against Ashland's Joe Brandt.
Findlay 20, Lake Erie 15
125 – Ben Sergent (UF) maj. dec. Austin Gillihan (LE), 11-1
133 – Nick Wiesjahn (UF) dec. Tom McVicker (LE), 10-9
141 – Kevin Brunner (LE) pins Chris Andrews (UF), 4:23
149 – Zach Vargo (LE) dec. Jeremy Espinoza (UF), 3-2
157 – Nathan Ball (LE) dec. Alex Betts (UF), 8-4
165 – Matt Vandermeer (LE) dec. Mason True (UF), 3-0
174 – Michael Lybarger (UF) dec. Zev Green (LE), 5-0
184 – Adam Walters (UF) dec. Josh Linden (LE), 6-2
197 – Ashton Brown (UF) dec. Mike Samijlenko (LE), 9-4
285 – Andrew Tumlin (UF) maj. dec. Bobby Zappitelli (LE), 10-1
Findlay 38, Tiffin 7
125 – Ben Sergent (UF) wins by forfeit
133 – Steven Pastor (T) maj. dec. Nick Wiesjahn (UF), 12-2
141 – Chris Andrews (UF) dec. Jonathan McKenzie (T), 1-0
149 – Jeremy Espinoza (UF) tech. fall Kyle Begg (T), 18-3
157 – Trevor Nickolia (T) maj. dec. Alex Betts (UF), 7-0
165 – Mason True (UF) dec. Christopher Baker (T), 8-2
174 – Michael Lybarger (UF) pins Jacob Cramer (T), 4:42
(Tiffin deducted one team point)
184 – Adam Walters (UF) dec. Kevin Christman (T), 7-4
197 – Ashton Brown (UF) wins by forfeit
285 – Andrew Tumlin (UF) pins Derrick Eshelman (T), 2:45
Findlay 21, Ashland 9
125 – Ben Sergent (UF) dec. Brandon Davis (AU), 4-3
133 – Adli Edwards (AU) dec. Shane Troyer (UF), 3-0
141 – Chris Andrews (UF) dec. Clarence Longley (AU), 3-2
149 – Jeremy Espinoza (UF) dec. Marc Hoff (AU), 6-2
157 – Dan Genetin (AU) dec. Alex Betts (UF), 11-4
165 – Mason True (UF) dec. Tommie Graszl (AU), 9-5
174 – Michael Lybarger (UF) dec. Bryson Hall (AU), 3-1
184 – Adam Walters (UF) dec. Kurt Schaefer (AU), 7-5
197 – Ashton Brown (UF) dec. Joe Brandt (AU), 7-4
285 – Jacob Southwick (AU) dec. Andrew Tumlin (UF), 6-2
The Roughnecks will hit the mat again on Feb. 10 when they host #10 Mercyhurst College at 7 pm in Croy Gymnasium.
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