CLARION, Pa. -- The Golden Eagles wrestling team competed in their home tournament Sunday, finishing 3rd overall as a team. Clarion finished with a total of 11 placers including Zachary Marrero, who was the runner-up at 133 pounds.
A long-awaited season opening event that has attracted some of the best collegiate wrestlers and programs in the country, the Clarion Open kicked off the season for the Golden Eagles. Marrero entered today as the 2nd seed at 133 pounds, first matched up with Meyer Rosen from Bucknell. He disbanded him in short order with a first period takedown and four near-fall points before another takedown that led to a first period victory by pinfall.
Marrero followed that up by two tech-fall victories in a row over Dylan Kadish and Gavin Lewis, by scores of 16-1 (5:40), and 15-0 (3:55) respectively. He then entered a finals matchup against top-seeded Jacob Jones of Air Force. Midway through the first period, Marrero got in on a single leg shot on Jones before standing to his feet and driving back into him to finish the takedown and take the early 3-0 lead. He finished the period up 3-1 after an escape by Jones with 50 seconds remaining in the period. Jones got the choice to start the second period and chose the bottom position, quickly earning an escape to cut the lead to a point. Marrero chose the down position with his choice to start the third period, earning a quick escape to regain a two-point lead early in the period. Halfway through the period, Jones turned defense into offense, countering Marrero's shot into a takedown of his own to take a 5-4 lead. Marrero was unable to escape from Jones and lost a heartbreaking decision to take second place at the Clarion Open. An impressive Clarion debut for the Western Wyoming transfer.
Keagan Oler began his day with a 17-2 tech-fall victory over Brayden Sigle of Bucknell. He got to work quickly with three first period takedowns followed by an escape, another takedown and four near-fall points in the second. After Oler dropped his next match by a close 4-1 decision against Utah Valley's Smokey McClure, he bounced back in a huge way by defeating a pair of Buckeyes. First, defeating Karson Brown by a 10-7 decision overcoming an early 3-1 deficit by getting a last second takedown in the second period fighting through a scramble position and taking Brown to his back adding four near-fall points. Then was able to stave off Brown's attacks until the final whistle blew securing the decision victory.
His next match came against Nic Bouzakis, InterMat's number 9th ranked wrestler at 141 pounds coming into the season. After giving up two first period takedowns and an immediate reversal to start the second period, Oler found himself down 8-1. He quickly worked his way to an escape and followed it up with a double-leg takedown to cut the lead to just 3 points. Bouzakis battled back with a reversal after a granby roll got Oler out of position, but just before the period ended Oler escaped putting the score at 10-6 in favor of Bouzakis. Oler chose neutral to start the final period and midway through earning a takedown off a re-attack from a Bouzakis double-leg. After letting Bouzakis to his feet Oler took him down again with a single leg and rode out Bouzakis to force sudden victory after the riding time advantage was given to Bouzakis. Like his first takedown in the third period, Oler scored off a Bouzakis double-leg, toppling the Buckeye clean over and securing the three points for a massive victory to send him to the third-place match. Oler was unable to defeat Utah Valley's Owen Proper in the match, losing in a hard-fought 6-5 decision. An impressive weekend nonetheless from the sophomore competitor.
Adrian Gacek took home 3rd place today for the Golden Eagles at 184 pounds. In his first matchup against Bloomsburg's Connor Hudak, he converted three takedowns, one in each period, in route to a 16-1 tech-fall victory (7:00). Gacek then matched up with third-seeded Carson Mize in the semi-finals from Ohio State. A first period takedown from Mize ended up being the difference in the match as Gacek fell to Mize 5-0, who added an escape in the second period and a riding time point after the match. Gacek bounced back with a major decision victory over Gavin Hannah of Bloomsburg in the consolation semi-finals. Where he put up two third period takedowns along with four near-fall points, winning 15-3. Gacek then finished off his tournament with a bang, pinning Air Force's Joshua Cordio in 48 seconds in the third-place match, placing for a second-straight year at the Clarion Open.
Here is a summary of how the other Golden Eagle placers performed today:
