Seven members of the Case Western Reserve University wrestling team placed in the top six of their weight classes at the Rochester Institute of Technology Invitational held at the Gordon Field House in Rochester, New York, on Saturday.
Overall, the Spartans placed fourth out of 14 teams with 115.0 points. Pennsylvania College of Technology had the most points on the day, scoring 138.5 points.
Sophomore Art Martinez, who entered competition ranked third in the region, had the best finish of any Spartan at the invite, placing second in the 141-pound bracket. Martinez reached the final with four consecutive wins, including three by technical fall to give him a team-high five tech falls this season. In the final, he lost by decision, 15-13, to Bryson Vaughn of RIT.
In the 174-pound bracket, first-year Simon Bishop, went 4-1 to place third. Bishop advanced to the semifinal of the bracket with a technical fall, his second of the season, and major decision. After dropping the semifinal bout, he won by fall in the consolation semifinal, his third pin of the season, before claiming third place.
Graduate student Mitchell Arch (165 pounds), who entered the meet ranked fourth in the region, and junior Calvin Cai (149 pounds) each placed fourth in their brackets. Arch won his first three matches by pin, increasing his team lead to 12, before dropping a 9-5 decision in the semifinal. He earned a pin in the consolation semifinal, his fourth of the day, to advance to the third-place match. Cai won two of his first three matches by technical fall, his first two tech falls of the season, and another by pin, his second of the campaign, to reach the semifinal. After dropping an 8-1 decision, Cai responded with a 14-12 win in the consolation semifinal. However, in the third-place match, he lost in sudden victory, 8-5, to Ike Guttentag (Wesleyan (Conn.)).
Placing fifth for CWRU were first-year Mathew Gummere (174 pounds) and graduate student Stephen Andryc (197 pounds). Each wrestler earned a win via fall, the fourth of the season for Gummere and third of the season for Andryc. Sophomore Marty Landes went 4-2 in the 157-pound bracket to place sixth, winning three matches by technical fall, his first of the season.
In his first action of the season, senior William Kerr won three matches by fall to go 3-2 in the 285-pound bracket. The pins were the first three of his career. In the 125-pound bracket, sophomore E.J. Alizio reached the consolation quarterfinals. After dropping his first match of the day, Alizio won three consecutive matches, including two by fall, before ending the day with a record of 3-2. Alizio increased his season total of pins to four.
At 157 pounds, sophomore Justin Sweeney earned a pair of wins, including one by fall, to finish 2-2. It was his second pin of the season. Additionally, junior Cole Mullenix (285 pounds) and first-year Mike Valerino (133 pounds) each pinned an opponent. It was Mullenix's first pin of the season and Valerino's seventh of the campaign.
The Spartans will conclude the 2023 portion of their season next week, traveling to Tiffin, Ohio, on Friday to face Heidelberg University in a dual meet. Action is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
