Behind a first place finish at 197 pounds from junior Aidan Gassel and two second place finishes at other weight classes, the Case Western Reserve University wrestling team placed third to open the season at the Adrian Invitational inside the Merillat Sports and Recreation Center in Adrian, Michigan, on Saturday.

Overall, CWRU totaled 115.5 team points at the invite, placing third out of 11 schools. Wabash was the top team with 177.0 points.

Gassel won the 197-pound bracket with a perfect 4-0 record, including two wins by technical fall. He started the day with a 16-1 victory in 3:35 over Peyton Wagoner of Trine and advanced to the semifinals with an 18-3 triumph over Aidan Belgiorno of Heidelberg in 5:18. Gassel followed with a 10-0 shutout of Averett's Jacob Jimenez to reach the final. He then defeated Jamar Christian from Averett by decision, 8-2, to win the bracket. It marked his second bracket victory after claiming the 197-pound title at the Baldwin Wallace Invitational in 2023.

First-year Chase Crutchley (174 lbs.) and junior Art Martinez (133 lbs.) both advanced to the finals of their respective weight classes.

Competing in his first collegiate meet, Crutchley began the day with a 4-1 decision. He then won a thrilling semifinal match against Cooper McCloy of Wabash, prevailing in a tiebreaker 5-4 on an escape 22 seconds into overtime. In the final, Crutchley lost to Philip Burney of Trine, ranked fifth in the region at the weight class, 4-0.

Martinez went 3-1 at 133 pounds with a win by fall and one by technical fall. The junior recorded his first fall of the season in 2:02 over Cole Renier of Heidelberg. In the quarterfinal match, he won in 4:38, defeating Alexander Logsdon of Averett 20-2. Martinez then won by major decision, 16-7, in the semifinal, before losing to James Day of Wabash, ranked second in the region, by decision, 13-7, in the final.

A trio of Spartans placed fourth in their weight classes. Sophomore Mathew Gummere went 4-2 at 184 pounds with a team-high three pins. Sophomore Dillon O'Keefe had a 3-2 record with two falls at 139 pounds, and junior E.J. Alizio split four matches at 125 pounds.

Three additional CWRU wrestlers placed in the top eight at the meet. Junior John Conover finished 5th at 157 pounds with two wins, including one by fall, sophomore Louka Babic was sixth at 174 pounds with a pair of victories and one pin, and first-year Alexander Greene Barrios placed sixth in the 133-pound bracket, earning his first collegiate win.

Competing at 141 pounds, sophomore Mike Valerino had his first win by fall of the season.

The Spartans will host the Bob Del Rosa Ohio Intercollegiate Open on Sunday, November 10 inside the Veale Center. Action is slated to begin at 10 a.m.

Spartan Notes

• Crutchley, Greene Barrios, and first-year Robert Minden all made their collegiate debuts for CWRU at the invitational
• Three Spartans entered the season ranked third in Region V at their weight classes by the NWCA: Alizio, Martinez, and junior Thomas Wagner
• Last season, Martinez won the 141-pound bracket at the Adrian Invite