Brackets

AKRON, Ohio – The Clarion wrestling program was represented well on a national stage over the weekend, placing two and watching a handful of others advance deep into the bracket at the 2018 United World Wrestling U23 Freestyle Nationals. 
 
Brock Zacherl (65kg) and Greg Bulsak (92kg) were among the top performers at the event, taking fourth and seventh at their respective weight classes.  All told, six Golden Eagles advanced to the second day of action, with five of them moving on to the round of 12 at the three-day weekend in Akron that featured top college-aged competition from around the country.
 
Zacherl advanced to the quarterfinal round in the 65kg bracket, starting his weekend with a win over Lehigh's Joe Lobeck and adding a victory over Nick Lirette of North Carolina.  He topped American's Jack Mutchnik  in the round of 16 to reach the quarterfinals, where he dropped a close 2-1 decision.  He won three bouts in the consolation bracket, culminating with a victory over All-American Kevin Jack of North Carolina State in the consolation semifinals to ensure a top-four finish.
 
In the 92kg bracket, Greg Bulsak scored his first win of the day with an 8-3 decision over Virginia's Tyler Love.  He went on to win a high-scoring bout with Buffalo's Brett Perry in the quarterfinals before falling to reigning 197-pound NCAA champion Michael Macchiavello.  Undeterred, Bulsak rebounded with a 4-0 decision over Ohio's Aaron Naples.  That ensured him a spot in the top-eight and Bulsak took advantage, beating Anthony Perrine for a seventh-place finish.
 
Other Golden Eagles excelled over the weekend, as well.  Taylor Ortz reached the round of 64 in the 70kg bracket, opening with a win over Jake Tucker before being sent to the consolation bracket.  There Ortz won three more matches, including 10-0 victories over American's Elijah Murphy and Illinoi's Dylan Thurston.  Taylor Cahill dropped his first match in the championship bracket but ran wild in the consolation bracket, winning three straight matches to reach the consolation round of eight.  Tyshawn White also won three matches in the consolation bracket, reaching the consolation round of eight after a win over Ohio's Kyran Hagan.  Jack Peura claimed a win in his first championship bracket bout of the day, beating Bailey Neises to move to the round of 32.