CLEVELAND -- The Adrian College men's wrestling team punched four tickets to the NCAA Division III National Championship. At 165,
Zach Altman qualified for the National Tournament along with
Derick Duvall at 174,
Blake Williams at 184, and
Dylan Wellbaum at 197. As a team the Bulldogs placed 5th in the 20-team regional.
Adrian advanced six to day two of the 2023 Regional. On Friday,
Tyler Davis was eliminated at 133 after finishing 1-2 on the day.
Tanner Smith finished 1-2 at 141 as did
Zachary Platte at 149, and
Trenton DiGenova at 157. Unfortunately for the four Adrian wrestlers, they didn't advance to Sunday.
Zach Phifer advanced to Sunday at 125. On Friday he won his opening bout by tech fall before falling to the consolation bracket after a loss in the quarterfinals. He finished the day with a win by major decision to advance to Sunday. On Sunday, Phifer opened the day with a win by decision. During his next bout, Phifer was pushed to the fifth-place match after a loss by decision where he went on to finish sixth.
Zach Altman went undefeated at 165 on Friday winning a preliminary round by fall before winning back-to-back bouts by fall and by decision to advance to the semifinal. On Sunday, Altman went on to win by sudden victory, 3-1. Altman went on to place second and advance to Nationals.
Derick Duvall was also undefeated on Friday at 174. Duvall won his opening bout by a 10-3 decision before winning in the quarterfinals by a another 10-3 decision. To open Sunday, Duvall wrestled in the semifinals where he won by decision, 3-2. Duvall went on to place second and advance to Nationals
Blake Williams advanced to Sunday at 184 after finishing Saturday 2-1. Williams won his opening round by fall in 34 seconds. He was tripped up in the quarterfinal round pushing him to the consolation bracket where he bounced back to win by fall in 24 seconds. On Sunday, Williams grabbed an opening win by decision by a score of 6-2. Williams found himself fighting for the final qualifying spot at 184 where he went on to win the third-place match 13-8 to advance to Nationals.
Dylan Wellbaum was undefeated on day one of the Central Regional at 197. He won by fall in a preliminary match which he followed up with two more pins to get to the semifinals on Sunday. To open the final day, Wellbaum won 2-1 by decision to advance to the championship. Wellbaum went on to place second and advance to Nationals.
Lastly, at 285
Kyle Emery advanced to Sunday after finishing the opening day 2-1. Emery won his first bout by a 5-0 decision before falling to the consolation bracket with a loss in the quarterfinals. Emery redeemed himself with a win by fall to advance to the final day. On Sunday, Emery was an early exit after losing by fall. Emery went on to finish eighth.
Altman, Duvall, Williams, and Wellbaum all advance to the NCAA Division III National Championships with their top-3 finishes. The Bulldogs will travel to Roanoke, Virginia on March 10-11 for the National Tournament. For more information on the National Championship, go to www.NCAA.com.
