TIFFIN, Ohio -- The Lake Erie Storm wrestling team traveled to Tiffin, Ohio this weekend to compete in the NCAA Super Regional III. The Storm competed well on the weekend, coming away with some hardware and securing three spots in the the NCAA Nationals.
Anthony Sagaris shined for the Storm at 133. He began his day with a 15-0 technical fall win to advance to the quarterfinals. In his next matchup, he earned a tough 8-6 decision win over Glenville State's Hunter Ross. With a trip to nationals on the line, Sagaris would have to face #10 Jak Keller from Grand Valley State. Both men would go back-and-forth and the match would go into sudden victory where Sagaris emerged victorious, 10-7 and securing a sport in the NCAA Nationals. In the finals, he fell to West Liberty's James Armstrong to earn the regional runner-up title.
As he's done all year, #2
Christian Small dominated. His first match of the day came in the 141 quarterfinals where he easily took down Riley Curran (Salem), by 16-0 technical fall. In the semifinals, he squared off against #15 Brock Durbin from Ashland. He made quick work of Durbin and took him down by fall at 4:27. In the championship match, he would face Khyvon Grace from West Liberty. The two had a close contest but Small would come out on top, earning his second-straight Super Regional III title.
At 165, #4
Jack Haskin was a force to be reconded with. His first two matches resulted in two technical fall wins, beating both his opponents by a combined 36-6 score. In the semifinals he squared off against #5 Nate Barnett from Ashland and took him down by 10-2 major decision. In the finals, he faced off against another ranked G-MAC opponent, #2 Nolan Gessler from Tiffin. While this match was closer, Haskin still came out on top, earning a 6-2 decision win and giving him his second-straight regional title and third nationals appearance.
As a team, Lake Erie finished sixth overall and third among G-MAC teams.
Sagaris, Small, and Haskin will be back in action on Friday, March 14th-15th in Indianapolis, Indiana for nationals.
