(TIFFIN, Ohio) - Lake Erie wrestling competed in the Division two Super Region III Tournament on Saturday in Tiffin. Zane Johnson (133), Sean O'Hearon (149), and James Penfold (165) each earned an automatic qualifier bid into the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Christopher Droege (197) and Brandon Tenney (157) currently sit and wait as at large candidates for nationals. 

Starting his day with a first-round bye, Johnson earned an 11-2 major decision in the quarterfinals over Kevin Meloni (Glenville St.). Johnson prevailed in the semifinal round with a narrow 4-3 decision over Chase Wilkerson (Indianapolis). In the final round, 2019 National Champion Taylor Warner (West Liberty) earned a 3-0 decision over Johnson. 

O'Hearon opened up his day with a 6-1 decision over Evan Campbell (Findlay). In the quarterfinal round, O'Hearon defeated the 12th nationally ranked and No. 2 seed wrestler Logan Bailey (Indianapolis) by fall (6:53). In the semifinal round, O'Hearon marked his second upset of the day with a 7-3 decision over the No. 3 seeded Jordan Ringler (Davenport). O'Hearon later dropped a 12-5 decision in the first place match against Carson Speelman (Ashland). 

James Penfold walked away as Super Region III champion and was the only wrestler to go undefeated in the regional tournament. Penfold received a first-round bye and won by fall (3:39) in the quarterfinal round over Cole Houser (Glenville St.). The No. 2 seed and 8th nationally ranked wrestler Bryan Lavearn (Tiffin) battled hard against Penfold but could not overcome the tiebreaker, as Penfold advanced (8-4) in a semifinal upset. In the final round, Penfold won by a 9-7 sudden victory over Chase Moran (West Liberty). 

Tenney in his first match of the day fell by a major decision in the quarterfinal round after receiving around one bye. Tenney would go on to win back-to-back consolation round matches that put him in the third-place match. In the placement match, Tenney would defeat Nick Carbone (Ashland) in an 11-3 major decision. 

Droege opened up his day with a 7-2 decision over Derek Blubaugh (Indianapolis) but would fall to Nicholas Mason (Tiffin) in his semifinal match. Droege would later defeat Jacob Kowalaski (Findlay) by a 10-1 major decision. The win secured Droege with a third-place match that he later won over Peter Abraham (Ashland) by a score of  7-2. In his final match of the day for a true second-place finish, Droege fell to Logan Kemp (West Liberty). 

As a team, Lake Erie finished in third with 69 points, just behind first-place West Liberty (95.5) and second-place Ashland (89.5). 

The NCAA Division II National Tournament will begin on March 12 to March 13 at America's Center Convention Complex in St. Louis, Mo.

NCAA Division II Super Region III Results

125

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place - Cole Laya of West Liberty

• 2nd Place - Christian Wellman of Ashland

• 3rd Place - Tyshawn White of Glenville St.

• 4th Place - Manuel Leija of Davenport

1st Place Match

• Cole Laya (West Liberty) 13-1, Jr. over Christian Wellman (Ashland) 6-2, RS Sr. (Dec 6-0)

2nd Place Match

• Christian Wellman (Ashland) 6-2, RS Sr. over Tyshawn White (Glenville St.) 4-1, Jr. (NC)

3rd Place Match

• Tyshawn White (Glenville St.) 4-1, Jr. over Manuel Leija (Davenport) 4-8, Fr. (Dec 3-0)

133

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place - Tyler Warner of West Liberty

• 2nd Place - Zane Johnson of Lake Erie

• 3rd Place - Mathew Kaufman of Notre Dame (OH)

• 4th Place - Chase Wilkerson of Indianapolis

1st Place Match

• Tyler Warner (West Liberty) 7-0, Sr. over Zane Johnson (Lake Erie) 8-2, Sr. (Dec 3-0)

2nd Place Match

• Zane Johnson (Lake Erie) 8-2, Sr. over Mathew Kaufman (Notre Dame (OH)) 11-5, Fr. (Dec 2-1)

3rd Place Match

• Mathew Kaufman (Notre Dame (OH)) 11-5, Fr. over Chase Wilkerson (Indianapolis) 5-5, So. (Dec 12-7)

141

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place - Kelan McKenna of Notre Dame (OH)

• 2nd Place - Branson Proudlock of Findlay

• 3rd Place - Luke Wymer of Ashland

• 4th Place - Marcus Jean-baptiste of West Liberty

1st Place Match

• Kelan McKenna (Notre Dame (OH)) 8-0, RS Sr. over Branson Proudlock (Findlay) 6-2, Jr. (Fall 2:44)

2nd Place Match

• Branson Proudlock (Findlay) 6-2, Jr. over Luke Wymer (Ashland) 8-1, Jr. (NC)

3rd Place Match

• Luke Wymer (Ashland) 8-1, Jr. over Marcus Jean-baptiste (West Liberty) 8-4, RS Jr. (Dec 6-3)

149

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place - Carson Speelman of Ashland

• 2nd Place - Sean O`Hearon of Lake Erie

• 3rd Place - Logan Bailey of Indianapolis

• 4th Place - Jordan Ringler of Davenport

1st Place Match

• Carson Speelman (Ashland) 7-1, Sr. over Sean O`Hearon (Lake Erie) 3-1, Sr. (Dec 12-5)

2nd Place Match

• Sean O`Hearon (Lake Erie) 3-1, Sr. over Logan Bailey (Indianapolis) 11-2, Fr. (NC)

3rd Place Match

• Logan Bailey (Indianapolis) 11-2, Fr. over Jordan Ringler (Davenport) 5-5, Sr. (Dec 6-3)

157

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place - James Wimer of Findlay

• 2nd Place - Dawson Combest of Indianapolis

• 3rd Place - Brandon Tenney of Lake Erie

• 4th Place - Nick Carbone of Ashland

1st Place Match

• James Wimer (Findlay) 10-0, RS Fr. over Dawson Combest (Indianapolis) 10-2, RS So. (Dec 6-1)

2nd Place Match

• Dawson Combest (Indianapolis) 10-2, RS So. over Brandon Tenney (Lake Erie) 6-4, RS Sr. (Dec 6-3)

3rd Place Match

• Brandon Tenney (Lake Erie) 6-4, RS Sr. over Nick Carbone (Ashland) 6-6, So. (MD 11-3)

165

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place - James Penfold of Lake Erie

• 2nd Place - Bryan Lavearn of Tiffin

• 3rd Place - Chase Morgan of West Liberty

• 4th Place - Jack Eiteljorge of Indianapolis

1st Place Match

• James Penfold (Lake Erie) 6-0, So. over Chase Morgan (West Liberty) 12-4, RS Jr. (SV-1 9-7)

2nd Place Match

• Bryan Lavearn (Tiffin) 10-2, RS Sr. over Chase Morgan (West Liberty) 12-4, RS Jr. (Fall 3:51)

3rd Place Match

• Bryan Lavearn (Tiffin) 10-2, RS Sr. over Jack Eiteljorge (Indianapolis) 8-2, RS So. (Dec 6-1)

174

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place - Daniel Beemer of Ashland

• 2nd Place - Andrew Sams of Indianapolis

• 3rd Place - Ty Mcgeary of West Liberty

• 4th Place - Mark Trifelos of Findlay

1st Place Match

• Daniel Beemer (Ashland) 8-1, Jr. over Andrew Sams (Indianapolis) 9-1, RS Jr. (Dec 6-2)

2nd Place Match

• Andrew Sams (Indianapolis) 9-1, RS Jr. over Ty Mcgeary (West Liberty) 12-3, RS Fr. (NC)

3rd Place Match

• Ty Mcgeary (West Liberty) 12-3, RS Fr. over Mark Trifelos (Findlay) 6-7, Jr. (Dec 3-2)

184

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place - Connor Craig of West Liberty

• 2nd Place - Aidan Pasiuk of Ashland

• 3rd Place - Gleason Mappes of Indianapolis

• 4th Place - Tylor Orrison of Lake Erie

1st Place Match

• Connor Craig (West Liberty) 11-0, Sr. over Aidan Pasiuk (Ashland) 9-1, Sr. (Dec 8-1)

2nd Place Match

• Aidan Pasiuk (Ashland) 9-1, Sr. over Gleason Mappes (Indianapolis) 6-6, Jr. (Dec 8-2)

3rd Place Match

• Gleason Mappes (Indianapolis) 6-6, Jr. over Tylor Orrison (Lake Erie) 4-4, RS So. (Dec 6-5)

197

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place - Nicholas Mason of Tiffin

• 2nd Place - Logan Kemp of West Liberty

• 3rd Place - Chris Droege of Lake Erie

• 4th Place - Peter Abraham of Ashland

1st Place Match

• Nicholas Mason (Tiffin) 7-1, RS Sr. over Logan Kemp (West Liberty) 14-2, Sr. (Fall 2:50)

2nd Place Match

• Logan Kemp (West Liberty) 14-2, Sr. over Chris Droege (Lake Erie) 8-5, RS Sr. (Fall 0:33)

3rd Place Match

• Chris Droege (Lake Erie) 8-5, RS Sr. over Peter Abraham (Ashland) 4-3, RS Jr. (Dec 7-2)

285

Guaranteed Places

• 1st Place - Tristen Weirich of Ashland

• 2nd Place - Francesco Borsellino of West Liberty

• 3rd Place - Mike Viramontes of Notre Dame (OH)

• 4th Place - River Fox of Davenport

1st Place Match

• Tristen Weirich (Ashland) 10-0, Sr. over Francesco Borsellino (West Liberty) 12-1, RS So. (Fall 3:43)

2nd Place Match

• Francesco Borsellino (West Liberty) 12-1, RS So. over Mike Viramontes (Notre Dame (OH)) 10-5, RS So. (Fall 5:37)

3rd Place Match

• Mike Viramontes (Notre Dame (OH)) 10-5, RS So. over River Fox (Davenport) 6-5, So. (Dec 4-3)