Nate Barcaskey, Gavin Nelson post top-3 finishes at NCAA III Central Regionals, earn trips to NCAA III Championships

By Tim Glon

| NCAA III Central Regional Site | ONU Individual Results |

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. — Senior Gavin Nelson (Oregon/Clay) and sophomore Nate Barcaskey (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) posted top three finishes in their respective weight classes to lead the Ohio Northern wrestling team on the final day of the NCAA Division III Central Regional Championships on Saturday at Knowling Fieldhouse, hosted by Wabash (Ind.)

Top-seeded Barcaskey finished runner-up at Heavyweight with a 3-1 record and sixth-seeded Nelson won his third place match at 165 and finished with a 4-1 record.

Both men qualified for the NCAA III Championships March 9-10 in Cleveland. Each weight class places the top six finishers, with the top three placers advancing to the NCAA Championships.

Sophomore Seth Transue (Plain City/Dublin) and  junior Clayton Davidson (Kirtland) just missed qualifying for the national meet, as they fell in the third place matches at 125 and 174 pounds, respectively.

Unseeded Transue and third-seeded Davidson each posted 4-2 records.

Senior Seth Meyer (Defiance) placed sixth at 157 pounds with a 3-3 record.

The Polar Bears finished sixth of 18 in the team standings with 67 points.

Both Nelson and Barcaskey will be making their first-ever appearance at the NCAA III Championships meet.