COLLEGE: CANTON GRAD WARD COMPETES AT WILKES OPEN (2024-12-21)

BY BRYAN SEYMOUR
Northern Tier Sports Report
Finals are completed and winter break is here. But that doesn’t stop college wrestling. Hudson Ward of Lock Haven took to the road and headed east to Wilkes University for the Wilkes Open. 

Wrestling unattached for Lock Haven, Ward would face off with Cavin Napoletano of Pennsylvania College of Technology in the round of 16. Ward would get the first takedown, followed by an escape to take the lead 3-1. Ward would add two more takedowns in the first period, giving up one more escape to make the score 9-2 after the first. Ward would choose down to start the second. Earning the reversal to add 2 more to his lead. Then Ward would get a penalty point to make it 12-2. Ward would give up an escape before ending the period on top with another takedown. At the end of the second Ward would lead 12-3. Starting the third in the neutral position Ward would get the final takedown to secure the 18-3 technical fall in 5:18.

Ward would meet up with Kellen Smith from USMAPS/Army Prep in the quarterfinals. Ward, in the first, would be hit for stalling for his first warning before giving up the first takedown. Ward would earn the escape to end the first period down 3-1. Ward would start the second in the top position. Giving up the escape early in the second, Ward would come back to get a takedown before giving up a penalty point to make the score 5-4 with Ward trailing. Ward would start in the down position for the third where he would earn the escape to tie the score up at 5. Ward would give up a late takedown and back points to take the loss 12-5 to drop him to the consolation side of the bracket. 

In the consi round 8 #2, Ward would face Austin Smith unattached. In the first period, Ward gave up the first takedown before getting an escape. Following some injury time for Smith, Ward would choose the bottom position. Again, earning the escape to close the gap to 3-2 before giving up a takedown and back points late in the first. Ward would get an escape to end the first in the neutral position with the score 10-3. Ward would start the second period in the top position. Ward would give up the escape before being taken down and put to his back. Ward would get the reversal to end the second on top with the score 18-5 with Ward trailing. Ward would choose neutral to start the third period. Ward needing to score points would start the takedown let up, takedown let-up series. Securing three takedowns but giving up the three escapes to make the score 21-14 prior to Ward earning two stall points to end the wild match of scoring at 21-16. The loss would end Ward’s Day. 

Ward would finish the day 1-2. Ward is putting the time in and competing before he gets to enjoy some holiday time with his family. 

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