Junior Art Martinez of the Case Western Reserve University wrestling team won the 133-pound bracket at the Albion Open in Albion, Michigan, at the Dow Recreation Center on the campus of Albion College on Sunday.
Martinez went 4-0 at the open to place first in the bracket, his second career first place finish at a meet and first this season. He started the day with a pin in 1:23 over Nick Greene before reaching the semifinal with a 5-1 decision over Thomas Zielinski of Cornerstone. In his penultimate match, Martinez easily bested Olivet's Emmett Kettel by major decision, 19-5. Facing Randy Frailey of Siena Heights in the final, Martinez won by decision 13-6 to claim the bracket.
Two other Spartans placed in the top five at the meet, and a pair of Spartans won consolation brackets after losing early in the day.
Junior E.J. Alizio finished fourth at 125 pounds after going 3-2. He secured a 15-0 technical fall in the first round and followed with a pin in 4:10 over Bobby Tupa of John Carroll to advance to the semifinal. After losing in the round by sudden victory, Alizio won in the consolation semifinal before falling in the third-place match. Alizio secured his first pin and technical fall of the season.
In the 165-pound bracket, junior Marty Landes placed fifth, winning three of his five matches. He started with a 20-4 technical fall and followed with a pin in 4:27 over Andrew Byerle of Southwestern Michigan. Losses in the semifinal and consolation semifinal sent Landes to the fifth-place match, where he defeated Byerle by technical fall, 19-2. Landes earned his first fall and first two technical falls in the 2024-25 campaign.
Sophomore Mike Valerino (141 pounds) and first-year Chase Crutchley (174 pounds) both rebounded from early losses to win their consolation brackets. Valerino went 5-1, including his second pin of the season in 4:06 over Vananthony Trunzo from JCU. Crutchley had a 4-1 record, picking up two wins by technical fall during the day.
Juniors Jacob Gregg and Justin Sweeney each won three matches for the Spartans. Gregg, competing at 141 pounds, pinned two of his opponents and added a technical fall, his first of the season. The two pins increased his season total to three and career total to nine. Additionally, first-years Alexander Greene Barrios and Robert Minden both split four matches in their brackets with each wrestler picking up a pin.
Sophomore Mathew Gummere picked up a pair of wins during the day, and sophomore Dillon O'Keefe and junior John Conover both added wins for CWRU.
On Saturday, November 23, the Spartans will make the short trip to Berea, Ohio, for the Baldwin Wallace Invitational, which is expected to begin at 10 a.m.
Spartan Notes
- CWRU has had wrestlers place first in a bracket at all three tournaments this season. Last week, Crutchley won the 174-pound first-year/sophomore bracket at the Bob Del Rosa Ohio Open, and the week prior, junior Aidan Gassel claimed the 197-pound bracket at the Adrian Invitational
- Martinez improved to 10-2 on the season with two pins after his four wins on Sunday
- Crutchley stands at 9-2 this season, earning his first career technical fall at the meet
- The pin for Greene Barrios was the first of his career
