Three Polar Bears advance to semifinals on first day of NCAA III Central Regional Wrestling Championships
By Tim Glon
| NCAA III Central Regionals site | ONU Individual Results |
ADRIAN, Mich. — Three Polar Bears are in the semifinals and eight are still alive after day one of the 2020 NCAA Division III Central Regional Wrestling Championships on Friday at the Merrilat Center.
Seniors Seth Transue (Plain City/Jerome) and Jeff Andrews (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) and junior Cash Thompson (Lake Odessa, Mich./Lakewood) all advanced to the semifinals in their respective weight classes.
The three men will each need a victory in the semifinals or two wins on the consolation bracket to post a top-three finish and qualify for the NCAA III Championships March 13-14 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
"We had a very good day today," ONU head coach Ron Beaschler said. "But today doesn't matter if we don't get it done tomorrow. All that matters from here on out is finishing in the top three and qualifying for the national championships."
Transue, who is seeded third at 133 pounds, went 2-0 with a 9-1 major decision and a third period pin.
Fifth-seeded Andrews got an 11-3 major decision in his first match, then won an overtime thriller 7-6 in the quarterfinals at 141.
Thompson is seeded third at 197 and won 3-2 in the first round. He got a late takedown to win his quarterfinal match 3-1.
Five more Polar Bears are alive in the consolation quarterfinals.
Junior Schuyler Caprella (Harrod/Allen East), sophomores Jordan Hardrick (Huber Heights/Wayne) and Connor Kwiat (Bloomville/Tiffin Calvert) and freshmen Chase Sumner (Ada) and Logan Painter (Marysville/Early College) all posted 2-1 records on Friday.
Caprella (157), Hardrick (165), Kwiat (174), Sumner (149) and Painter (285) are guaranteed a top-8 finish and will need to go 3-0 on Saturday to finish third and qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Freshman Camden Spears (Plainfield, Ind.) went 1-2 at 125 and freshman Sam Medlen (Westfield, Ind.) was 0-2 at 184 pounds.
Eight ONU wrestlers were seeded in the top eight of their respective weight classes.
As a team, Ohio Northern is sixth of 18 teams with 63 points.
