Marietta, GA – The 5th-ranked UC Men's Wrestling team had an impressive at the Life Open on Saturday. The Pats finished with three individual champions in Matteo Vargo, Jackson Shramek, and Malachia Harris while placing eleven.

Junior Matteo Vargo went a perfect 5-0 at the tournament and took home first place in the 125-weight class. He opened the day with a bye, followed by his first matchup with Ahmed Daoud (unattached), which he won by a 19-0 techinical fall. He scored all of his points in the first period with a 3-point takedown, three 4-point nearfalls, and a 3-point nearfall. In the third round, Vargo won in a 16-5 major decision over Erick Hair (Southeastern) that was highlighted by three 3-point takedowns in the match. Facing Issac Santos (unattached) in the following round, Vargo won in a 7-4 decision that included a 3-point takedown and a 4-point nearfall all in the first period. In the semi-finals, he defeated Adan Estrada (King) by a fall of 3:38. Vargo went on to face Corey Dye (Andrew College) in the championship match and won by a 4-2 decision, recording a 3-point takedown and an escape to win the title.

In the 197-weight class, Jackson Shramek posted a 4-0 record to win the individual title. He opened the day with a bye, followed by a win over Nicholas Cabrera (University of Central Florida) by a fall of 1:08. He won by fall again in third round over Blake Johnson (Missouri Baptist) in a time of 0:21. The freshman won his third match over Ethan Larsen (unattached) in a 6-3 decision to advance to the championship match. For the championship, he defeated Champ Higdon with a fall of 5:57, marking his third of the tournament.

The third individual champion of the day was Malachia Harris with a record of 6-0. Harris opened his tournament by defeating Mattox Allen (Liberty) by a 10-1 major decision. He then went on to face Justin Krebs (Southeastern) in the second round and won that match by a 7-1 decision. The freshman recorded two 3-point takedowns and an escape in the match. In the third round, Harris recorded a fall of 2:22 over Rashon Hines Jr. (unattached). Harris won by a slim 4-2 decision over his next opponent, Logan Reaves (Life University), scoring all of his points in third period with a 3-point takedown and an escape. He took the semifinal match over Zachary Lopez (Rio Grande) by a fall of 1:25, his second of the day. In the championship match, Harris defeated Enrique Santana (Life University) by major decision, 14-4.

Jace Luchau, ranked 4th in the NAIA, competed for the first time this season and went 5-1 in the 149-weight class. Luchau opened with an 8-3 decision over Cal Beadling (Campbellsville), where he battled with two 3-point takedowns and a point for both an escape and riding time. He took on Brice Barton (unattached) in the second round where he notched a fall of 0:25. The senior won his third match over Luke Boree (unattached) in a close 4-2 decision. Luchau then went on to defeat Cody Foote (unattached) in a 7-3 decision, marking two 3-point takedowns and an escape in the match. In the semifinals, Luchau wrestled #18 Victor Guzman (Cumberland University) and won by a close 4-3 decision by scoring a 3-point takedown in the first period and an escape in the second. He faced Jacob Silka (unattached) in the championship round but fell by a 12-1 major decision.

16th ranked Chandlar Akins went 4-1 on the day and took home 3rd place for the 133-weight class. He took on Nicolas Owens (unattached) in his first match of the day and won by an impressive score of 19-0. The graduate student defeated Carson Chalk (unattached) with a 7-1 decision, scoring 6 of his points in the first period with two 3-point takedowns. In his third matchup, Akins won by a 9-1 major decision over #6 Randy Frailey (Siena Heights University) with seven of his points coming from a 3-point takedown and a 4-point nearfall in the opening period.  Akins took on #1 Thaddeus Long (Life University) and fell by a close 4-2 decision. In the third place match, he faced Logan Heil (unattached) and won by a 14-7 decision.

Austin Silva took third place in 285-weight class. He opened the day with a close 1-0 decision over Abe Preston (Andrew College) on an escape in the second period. Silva won by a 10-2 major decison over Mason Ayers (unattached) in his next match, scoring seven points on a 3-point takedown and 4-point nearfall in the third period. In his third matchup, the sophomore defeated Issac Sheeran (Lander University) by another close decision, 5-4. In the semifinals, Silva was beat by Nate Glass (Life University) in a slim 4-2 decision. He then bounced back with a victory over Bryce Wheatley (Southeastern) in a 10-6 decision to place third.

Dylan Preston, ranked 11th in the NAIA, secured a third place finish in the 174-weight class. The senior started the day with a bye before defeating Logan Heckert (unattached) by major decision, 13-4. He then moved on to the third round after a medical forfeit by #3 Alex Hernandez (Southern Oregon). Moving onto the quarterfinals, Preston wrestled Nathan Buckovich (Lander University) and won the match by a 5-2 tiebreaker, scoring four points on a 3-point takedown and an escape to move on. He then fell to Alexander Couto (Life University) in the next round. Preston went on to face David Burgess (Huntingdon College) in the consolation bracket and won by major decision, 13-1.

Also, in the 285-weight class for UC was Wylie Dunn who placed fifth. Going 5-1 on the day, he started by defeating Kobe Pablo (unattached) in a 9-3 decision. He then defeated Slade Watkins (Mount Olive) with an escape and riding time. He fell in the next round against Bryce Wheatley (Southeastern). Dunn succeeded in the next round over Anthony Yancey (unattached) by another decision, 7-3, with a 3-point takedown, two escapes, riding time, and a penalty. In his next matchup against Samuel Bertin (Campbellsville), Dunn had a 4-point nearfall, 3-point takedown, and two escapes to win by a 9-4 decision. The junior capped off his day with a rematch against Kobe Pablo (unattached), notching a fall of 4:26 to finish fifth. 

Tenth ranked Adonis Boyd took fifth place in the 125-weight class and finished with a 5-1 record. In his first match, he notched a fall of 5:36 over Gabriel Tellez (St. Thomas). Boyd notched another fall in the next round over Patrick Jones (unattached). The junior faced Antonio Mills lii (unattached) but fell at the 3:57 mark. Boyd moved to the consolation bracket and went on to win three straight matches. In his fourth match of the day, he notched a fall of 0:46 over Brodie Christmas (Southeastern). Boyd defeated Adrian Morales (Life University) by another fall, this time in 0:56. In his final match of the day, Boyd won by an 18-2 technical fall over Kyle Sieminski (unattached), highlighted by 12 points in the first period.

In the 165-weight class, Patriot sophomore Oscar Alfaro placed fifth. He began the day with a bye, followed by his first matchup with Josiah Foss (Liberty), which he won by a 19-4 technical fall. He scored six of his points in the first period with a 3-point takedown and 3-point nearfall. Alfaro faced Creed Williams in the second round and notched a fall of 0:51 before falling to Sean Crews (unattached). He went on to face Lincoln Krull (unattached) in the consolation bracket and won in a 6-3 decision. Alfaro took on Gabriel Sweat (Huntingdon College) in the next round, where he won by major decision, 19-6. He then fell to Lane Reardon (Southeastern) before taking the fifth place match over Aspen Talbot (UNC Pembroke).

Trenton Pagaduan also took home fifth place for the Pats. Pagaduan started the tournament with wins over Amori Harris (unattached) and Briant Witherspoon (St. Andrews University) by technical fall (15-0) and fall (2:46). He was defeated by Peyton Hoskins (Life University) by fall in the third round. The junior rattled off three wins over Mateo Mack (Siena Heights University), Jacob Ohl (unattached), and Blaise Verdino (Liberty) to place fifth.

The next event for the Patriots will be the Indiana Little States Open in Indianapolis, IN. The tournament will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 7th.

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