Four Wrestlers advance to semifinals on first day of NCAA III Regionals
By Tim Glon
| NCAA III Central Regionals site | Ohio Northern Individual Results |
ADRIAN, Mich. — Four Ohio Northern wrestlers advanced to the semifinals in their respective weight classes on the first day of the 2022 NCAA Division III Adrian Regionals on Friday at the Merrilat Center.
Seniors Schuyler Caprella (Bluffton/Allen East) and Cash Thompson (Lake Odessa, Mich./Lakewood), junior Chase Sumner (Ada) and freshman Jacob Reed (Canal Winchester/Lancaster) all advanced to the semifinals with 2-0 records.
The top three placers in each eight class will qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships March 11-12 at Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
On Saturday, Caprella (157 pounds) Thompson (197), Sumner (149) and Reed (141) need to either win their semifinal matches or win twice in the consolation rounds to secure a top-3 finish and a spot at the NCAA III Championships.
Sumner and Thompson had the most impressive days as each posted a pair of first period pins.
Sumner had a tech fall and a decision and Reed had a fall and a decision to reach the semis.
All four men are guaranteed to place in the top six of their weight classes.
Three more Ohio Northern wrestlers are still alive in the consolation quarterfinals and have guaranteed themselves a top-eight finish.
Senior Jordan Hardrick (Dayton/Wayne), junior Ben DePrest (Louisville, Ky./Saint Xavier) and freshmen Dylan Le (Powell/Dublin Scioto) will each need three victories on Saturday to place third and qualify for the NCAA III Championships.
Hardrick was 2-1 at 165 with a major decision and a medical forfeit win and Le was 2-1 at 133 pounds with a major decision on Friday.
DePrest was 3-1 at heavyweight with three first period falls after dropping his opening match to top-seeded Max Bishop of Wabash (Ind.)
Ohio Northern is fourth out of 20 teams in the team standings with 72 points. No. 3-ranked Wabash is first with 102 points, No. 22 John Carroll is second with 87.5 points and No. 5 Baldwin Wallace is third with 83 points.
The second and final day will get underway at 11 am on Saturday.
