After their performance at the Super Region II Tournament, Ashland will be sending seven wrestlers to the NCAA Championships  in Birmingham, Alabama.  

For coach Josh Hutchins squad the drive to nationals starts in the spring right after last years national champions were crowned and during the summer break away from campus.

“We had a productive preseason. Got a lot guys in a lot of matches in the fall, mostly open tournaments just trying to get the experience,” Hutchins said, “Our goal has always been the nationals.”

After the winter break Eagles wrestling had the opportunity to come home for a series of dual matches that the majority went the Eagles squad, but with a few close calls against several tough opponents.

“After the break we had a lot of duals. Some better than others…we won some and lost some…we ended up with a winning record dual meat wise, but we lost a couple close ones including a tie.” Hutchins said.

The hard work and determination throughout the year has been the driving force to the squad’s success this season according to coach Hutchins.

“It doesn’t change, the focus has been the same all year.  Everything has been preparing the guys for this.  All those tough matches, all those tough tournaments against Division I opponents it all paying off now.”

The Eagles came into last week’s regional tournament with all tencompetitors ranked.  While  coach Hutchins is happy with seven of his wrestlers moving on to nationals he and the entire wrestling team are burnt about missing out on winning the regional tournament by one point as a team.

“The regional tournament kind of went similar to the regular season where we lost by a point for the title,” Hutchins said, “You look at one of 25 point in the tournament where we could have won it.”

No. 1 nationally ranked and newly crowned two-time GLIAC wrestler of the year redshirt Senior Michael Labry earned the regional title along with a couple stitches to the head from his championship match.  He is set on making this the year to capture the national title at 133 pounds as he has come closer and closer through his time here at Ashland University.

“Every kid I that I wrestled at regionals I have wrestled before already,” Labry said, “So it will be nice to see some fresh competition.  It’s going to be tough out there.”

Redshirt juniors Jordan Murphy (184) and Luke Cramer (197) also captured regional titles along with Labry and both are also poised to capture their own national titles. 

“(Murphy) knows he’s got the top guys in the country, but his goal is the national title,” Hutchins said, “He’s undefeated and he needs to keep it that way to win.”

Cramer, who is coming off of an impressive performance at regionals is also looking to make a statement at the national tournament. 

“Luke Cramer he went in and beat the top fourth and fifth ranked guys in the semis.  He only lost three matches all year and it was just only one little thing each time, so he is poised to win the title,” Hutchins said.

Redshirt senior Brent Fickle grinded his way through a tough 149 pound division finishing fourth and earned a trip to the nationals.  

“Brent took fourth in his region but the guys he faced in his region were ranked one, two, three and five in the country so that’s pretty tough,” Hutchins said.

Rounding out other national qualifiers are sophomores Chandler Minnard at 141 pounds, Deaken McCoy at 285 pounds and redshirt freshman Bret Romanzak who all also placed fourth in regionals. 

“Chandler has a little of an advantage because he has been here before,” Hutchins said, “ He knows the intensity so he will be ready to go.”

While coach Hutchins is happy to have seven wrestlers on their way to the nationals, but he also lamented the fact that they, “no doubt would have been happier with eight!” Hutchins said.

“There was that one we couldn’t get,” Hutchins said, “Just one bad moment in the match, we gave up some points and we couldn’t come back.” Hutchins said in regards to redshirt sophomore Sebastian Vidika’s performance. 

The seven qualifiers will travel to Birmingham, Alabama for the national tournament on March 10 and 11.