Three-and-a-half months of duals, tournaments and opens have led to the No. 15-ranked Ashland University wrestling team being ready for the start of the postseason – the NCAA Division II Region 3 tournament at Tiffin on Saturday (Feb. 25) at 9 a.m.
"I think we're in a good place," said Ashland head coach
Colt Sponseller. "If you look up and down the lineup, we're getting healthier. Our upper weights that have been carrying us most of the year are looking really strong, and even our light weights are finding themselves.
"We're really looking forward to guys wrestling to their ability, and a couple other guys knocking off some guys that they shouldn't have at the beginning of the year."
The top three wrestlers in each weight class at regionals will qualify for the 2023 NCAA Division II Championships, March 10-11 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Ashland's top three contenders for a spot at nationals are junior 184-pounder
Daniel Beemer, sophomore 197-pounder
Walker Uhl and junior 165-pounder
Drew Wiechers.
- Beemer is ranked No. 4 in Division II at 184 pounds, and is 21-2 with five pins, two technical falls and six major decisions this season.
"He expects a lot out of himself," Sponseller said. "It's a matter of just staying keyed in on the match your wrestling and not at the big picture, and keep doing what he's been doing all year."
- Uhl, ranked No. 5 in D-II at 197 pounds, is 23-5 with a team-high six pins and a major decision in 2022-23.
- Wiechers stands at 18-6 with three pins and four major decisions so far this season.
"Those guys have all been to the NCAA Tournament, so they are obviously working to get back," said Sponseller. "They're focused on regionals, and coming home with a regional title."
Three Eagles who will look to add to the national qualifier ranks are redshirt freshman 174-pounder
Nate Barrett (14-5, one pin, four tech falls, three major decisions), junior 285-pounder
Ty Petrey (19-17, four pins, one major decision) and junior 125-pounder
Tyler Masters (12-14, three pins, one tech fall, one major decision).
"As long as everybody wrestles to their ability, and maybe somebody wrestles above their ability…there's no reason why we can't get four or five out," Sponseller said. "It would be nice to get all 10."
