All five members of the Case Western Reserve University wrestling team placed in the top eight at the Regional Futures Open hosted by Adrian College at the Merillat Sport and Fitness Center in Adrian, Michigan, on Sunday.
Sophomore Louka Babic had the best finish among the five wrestlers, placing third in the 174-pound bracket. Babic split a pair of decisions in the championship bracket, before pinning Anthony Lahoski of Ohio Northern in 6:40 in the consolation semifinal. In the third-place match, he defeated Heidelberg's Kyler Howard by fall in 5:21 to finish his day with a 3-1 record.
Sophomore Mike Valerino and junior John Conover both placed fourth in their respective weight classes. At 141 pounds, Valerino began his day with a 16-1 technical fall before losing by fall in the quarterfinal. He won his first consolation bracket match by technical fall, 20-4, before advancing to the third-place match with a 7-4 decision. Conover, competing in the 157-pound round robin, went 2-2 with a decision and a fall. He pinned Ohio Northern's Clayton Smith in 2:34 for his second win of the day.
In the 133-pound bracket, first-year Alexander Greene Barrios finished fifth with a 2-2 record. He defeated Alma's Dominic Megdanoff by fall in 4:47 and in 7:00 for his victories. First-year Robert Minden took seventh at 149 pounds. He secured victories by decision and major decision to finish the day 2-2.
The CWRU wrestling team will begin its postseason journey with the NCAA Region V Championship hosted by Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The two-day meet begins on Friday, February 28 with the top three wrestlers in each weight class earning a berth to the national championship meet.
Spartan Notes
- Babic's two pins increased his season total to nine, one shy of the team lead, and his career total to 19
- Valerino won his first matches of the season by technical fall
- Conover pinned his fourth opponent in the 2024-25 campaign
- Greene Barrios pinned his seventh and eighth opponents this season
