Alliance, OH. – The Wheeling University Wrestling team opened 2024 as they embarked on their All-Tournament schedule on the road to the NCAA DII Regional Championships. The run began on Sunday when the Cardinals took on the Purple Raider Open at Mount Union University. The Cardinals finished 5-10 across 15 matches on the day as they battled throughout the afternoon.
Leading the way was the heavyweight class as 285 pounder
Jake Powell picked up right where he picked up right where he left off in 2023. He wrestled five matches on the day and finished 3-2 to move his season record to 17-8. After receiving a bye in the first round, Powell would fall to Cleveland State's Shane Cook in a 2-1 decision. He would head to the consolation bracket where, after getting a bye, he picked up his first win of the day against Edinboro's Aden Roe. He picked up a 9-3 decision victory and moved on to face unattached Corey Boerio. It was another decision victory for the sophomore, this time winning an 8-2 decision, as he advanced to the quarterfinals. It was there that he met Lance Trost from Cliff Keen Wrestling club. As was the case for the rest of the night, it was another close battle but this time Powell would fall 7-3 ending his run.
Aside from Powell, sophomore
Caden Canning picked up the other win on the night in the 144-lb weight class, going 1-1 in his two matches. He began his day against Mountain East Conference (MEC) opponent Dalton Minnick of Glenville State. It was one of his highest scoring efforts of the season, beating Minnick on a 12-6 decision to start the day 1-0. His second round match would come against Edinboro's Anthony Ferraro and he would battle but fell 15-0 in a Technical Fall. A medical forfeit would bring his day to an end as he finished 1-1.
Brian Crevar and
Alex Finsley were the other two to wrestle on the day, and both finished 0-2 across their two matches to round out the night.
The Wheeling University Wrestling team returns to action on Saturday, January 27th, when they head to the MEC Championships at West Liberty University.
