The Spartans opened their doors to Division I and II competition to begin the season. The Case Western Reserve University wrestling team started by hosting the Ohio Intercollegiate Open. There was no team scoring, but five CWRU wrestlers placed in the top seven of their brackets.

Second-year returning wrestler Michael Petersen and first-year rookie wrestler Brian Kent each placed fourth in their weight class.

Petersen, who competed in the 157 pound weight class, won two of his four bouts. He pinned Tiffin University’s Derek Gross, a Division II wrestler, with 33 seconds remaining in his first bout. In the following bout, he battled Otterbein University’s Christian Koch and won with a score of 5-2.

In the 174 pound weight class, Kent added one win and two losses. His victory came via major decision (18-7) over Niagara Community College’s Mark Ohanian. Like Petersen, Kent’s opponent pinned him in the third place bout.

Compiling four wins in five bouts was third-year veteran wrestler Gavin Dersh-Fisher. In the 197 pound bracket, Dersh-Fisher lost his first bout to Ashland University’s Luke Cramer, but responded by winning his next four bouts. His first win ended with a pin with 23 seconds remaining in regulation. In the fifth place bout, Dersh-Fisher defeated Ohio University’s Mason Kroening, a Division I wrestler, by sudden victory 4-2.

Second-year returning wrestler Alec Hoover (125 pounds) finished in sixth place, and second-year returning wrestler Isaac Collier (157 pounds) placed seventh. Collier earned two victories over Division I opponents. Hoover pinned a Division II opponent in his second bout, rebounding from a loss in his first.

First-year rookie wrestler Thomas Gallagher, competing in his first collegiate tournament, lost his second bout by just one point. In the 149 pound bracket, he lost to Otterbein’s Michael Duzzny 7-6. First-year rookie wrestler Michael Hughes pinned his very first opponent in just 74 seconds. Dersh-Fisher eliminated him from the 197 pound bracket two bouts later.

Perhaps the most impressive performance of the day came from fourth-year veteran wrestler Connor Gordon. His first bout was over in 27 seconds after Gordon pinned his opponent very quickly. Unfortunately, he lost his next bout by technical fall 18-0 and was eliminated from the 165 pound bracket.

On Sunday, Nov. 19, CWRU returns to Division III competition and travels to John Carroll University for their first dual matchup of the season. Ten Spartan wrestlers, one for each weight class, will compete against ten Blue Streaks, with teams earning points depending on the results of the bouts.

The first bout is set to begin at 10 a.m.