It’s getting chiller outside, but warming up inside with more college wrestling. More of our area athletes found their way back to the mats this weekend. It is always good to see area athletes continuing their love for the sport.

Our first stop is at the Michigan State Open, where we found Towanda’s Mason Higley and Kent State. Wrestling in the 184-pound open bracket, Higley opened up in championship round 1, took to the mat versus Desmond Harrison of Michigan State and earned a decision 4-3. In championship round 2, Higley faced Trent Myers of Central Michigan and again earned a decision win, 5-3. In the quarterfinals, Higley faced Brock Mantanona of Michigan; this time, Higley fell by fall at 3:25 to drop to the consolation side of the bracket. In the consolation round 4, Higley faced Cayaen Smith of Ohio State. Higley dropped his match by a score of 10-4 to end his day. Higley ended his day with a 2-2 record.

Just a little north, one found Athens, Gavin Bradley and Castleton at the Ithaca Invitational. Starting his day in the championship round 2, Bradley saw Daniel Visha of Cortland, whom he made quick work of, getting the :51 second fall. Moving to the championship round 3, Bradley faced Bryce Reilly of Springfield and again made quick

work, this time in :29 for the fall. In the quarterfinals, Bradley took to the mat against Artistotelis Bobotas of Lycoming. Again with his third fall of the day in 1:07, Bradley moved into the semifinals. In the semifinals, Bradley squared off against Tomah Gummow of Ithaca and earned a 5-0 decision win to move into the finals. In the finals, Bradley faced Nico Rivera of Johnson and Wales, where he dropped by major decision 11-3 to finish his day 4-1.

Moving to the lower forty of Pennsylvania, we find ourselves at Millersville for their wrestle-off or intra-squad match. Sometimes being at the same school with your cousin and at or near the same weight means you will have to wrestle off against each other. Riley Oakes and cousin Brayden Pequignot met on the mat. In the end, it was Oakes taking the 11-3 major decision win. Also seeing mat time at Millersville was Athens Caleb Nason. Nason squared off against Owen Winters where he earned a fall in 4:26. Pequignot also received an extra match against Ben Peterson, where he earned a technical fall 16-1 in 3:18.

Not seeing mat time this weekend were Penn College’s Nick Woodruff, United Coast Guard’s Lyle Vermilya, Lycoming’s Riley Vanderpool, Clarion’s Colton Wade, and Misericordia’s Kruz McCusker.