Ashland captured the 2026 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Wrestling on Jan. 31, holding off Tiffin and Findlay at Kentucky Wesleyan College. The Eagles would finish with a total of 161 Team points, defeating Tiffin, who scored 149 points, and the Roughnecks, who scored 140 points.

On the individual side, Ashland did not lead, but it made the consistent wins and scores throughout the lineup that would narrow it to Tiffin 141-136 and score enough to win the Great Midwest Athletic Championship.

Junior Hayden Kuhn, who proved to be great all year in the 149-pound weight class, would go on to defeat Tiffin’s Micah Cotrell 9-0 by a major decision. Kuhn’s day did not stop there. He would go on to pick up a pin, and two technical falls in a major decision, and what would be a major day for not only him personally, but the individual scoring.

Peyton Lemon, a junior and former Waynedale Golden Bear from nearby Apple Creek, would win the 197-pound title with a 4-2 decision over Tiffin’s Max Millin.

The final showcase came down to Wyatt Bailey in the heavyweight division, who closed out the list by winning by forfeit and went on to go undefeated at 285 pounds. Additional placers for Ashland included sophomore Donovan Paes (fourth at 133), redshirt freshman Fernando Lopez (fourth at 157), sophomore Rylen Campbell (fifth at 141), redshirt freshman Gavin Nelson (fifth at 165), and freshman Michael Millin (fifth at 285).

The number 10-ranked Eagles will return to action on Feb. 6, traveling to West Liberty University for a 6:30 PM dual meet.