EIGHT IS ENOUGH! No. 21 Wrestling To Send Eight To D-II Championships

Ashland University's wrestling team will send more grapplers to the NCAA Division II nationals than in any other year so far this decade, after a strong showing on Saturday (March 1) at the D-II Super Regional Three tournament at Tiffin.
 
Eight Eagles will go to the 2025 D-II Championships, March 14-15 in Indianapolis, Ind. – following two second-place finishes and six third-place showings on Saturday.

"Today was a roller coaster of emotions," said Ashland head coach Colt Sponseller. "We punch nine into the semifinals and had just two make the finals. Seven men had to win two more matches to punch their ticket. All seven made it to the third-place match, with six finishing the job.

"Couldn't be more proud of this squad. They have showed week in and week out that they are ready to compete. They were focused and were determined to get the job done. I am excited to see the eight competing in Indianapolis in two weeks."
 
Ashland's two regional runners-up were sophomore 125-pounder Luke Acuna and senior 197-pounder Kaine Morris. Acuna, ranked No. 14 in the nation and now 28-9 this season, earned a technical fall, a major decision and a decision prior to losing in the first-place match.
 
Morris (26-10), also 14^th in the country at his weight class, had a bye, then won by pin and decision before falling in his first-place bout.
 
The Eagles' six third-place finishes – all after win-or-go-home efforts in third-place matches – came from:

• Freshman Brock Durbin (27-15) at 141 pounds (3-1, two tech falls and a decision).
• Sophomore Hayden Kuhn (30-7, No. 15 in D-II) at 149 pounds (4-1, two tech falls, a major decision and a decision).
• Freshman Lance Overmyer (29-12) at 157 pounds (4-1, two pins, two decisions).
• Junior Nate Barrett (29-10, No. 9 in D-II) at 165 pounds (3-1, major decision, two decisions).
• Junior Sevriano Garza (28-3, No. 5 in D-II) at 174 pounds (3-1, pin, tech fall, decision).
• Junior Wyatt Bailey (21-10) at 285 pounds (3-1, pin, two decisions).

Kuhn is the first Eagle to win at least 30 matches in a season since current assistant coach Bret Romanzak had 30 victories in 2019-20.

In the team standings, Ashland tied for second place with 126.5 points, along with Grand Valley State. Glenville State was the team regional champion with 129 points.