COLLEGE: CANTON GRAD WARD GOES 2-1 AT TOURNAMENT (2025-01-07)

BY BRYAN SEYMOUR
Northern Tier Sports Report
Winter break. What winter break? College wrestling is still going. Hudson Ward representing Lock Haven University at the Bobby Kauffman Memorial Open at Edinboro University. 

Ward, wrestling unattached for Lock Haven, started his day in the quarterfinal round versus Thomas Stofka of George Mason (unattached). Ward would score the first takedown of the match to take the 3-0 lead before surrendering the escape to make the lead 3-1. Ward would end the first period on top by getting another takedown to take the 6-1 lead into the second period. Ward would choose the down position to start the second and earn the only points in the period with an escape. Ward would take a 7-1 lead into the third period. Starting in the top position, Ward would give up an escape before getting the final takedown of the match. With adding the ride time point for Ward, Ward would win the match 11-3 for the major decision to move into the semifinals.

In the semi-finals, Ward would face off against fellow District IV wrestler Kade Wirnsberger of Bucknell. Ward took his time, feeling that the opponent would finally secure the match’s first takedown to take a 3-0 lead into the second. Ward is starting in the top position for the second period. Ward would give up the escape to take the 3-1 lead into the third. Starting in the down position, Ward would escape quickly to take a 4-1 lead. Giving up a takedown to tie the score, Ward would again escape promptly to take a 5-4 lead and make it hold up to win and head to the finals. 

In the finals, Ward would face off against Ben Rogers of Cornell (unattached). Ward would give up the first takedown and near-fall points to be down 5-0 after the first period. Ward would also be called for stalling in the first period. Ward, starting in the top position in the second, would give up an escape to go down 5-0 before giving up a takedown to be down 9-0. After another stall call against Ward, which would make the score 10-0. Ward chose to go neutral to start the third. Ward would surrender two more takedowns and earn an escape to take the loss by technical fall 16-1 to finish his day 2-1 and in second place for his weight class. 

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