2 Blue Raiders Finish 4th in Tough Patriot Open
Junior Eric Feuerbacher and Sophomore Carlos Garcia both emerged from last weekend’s Patriot Open with 4th place finishes in their respective weight classes (133 and 141), setting the water mark for the highest finish in team history at the University of the Cumberland’s annual open tournament.
Feuerbacher started the day off strong in the 133 lb bracket, earning pinfall victories over Robbie Resendiz of Cumberland University and unattached wrestler Tyler Hackworth en route to the semifinals. Garcia’s path would be much different, losing his first match against Austin Sams (unattached) of the University of Chattanooga, putting him quickly into the consolation rounds. From there, Garcia would reel off three consecutive wins in impressive fashion with a tech fall victory over Erick Ditchfield from the University of Kentucky (unattached), and decision victories over Nick Johnson from the University of Tennessee and Ryu Ballard from the University of the Cumberlands, earning a spot in the consolation finals.
In the semifinals, Feuerbacher would come up short with a 5-2 loss against Andrew Ferguson, unattached, before pinning Andrew Tillman of the University of the Cumberlands on his way into the consolation finals. Both wrestlers fell short of third place finishes with Feuerbacher losing by 3 points in a 10-7 battle against Billy Ward of Cumberland, and Garcia on the short end of a 5-3 match against Ethan Holbrook, unattached.
Both men eclipsed last season’s 6th place finish by 165 lber Everett Colbert as the highest finish in team history.
Rounding out the Blue Raiders’ 7-man skeleton crew at the event, Senior Everett Colbert (165) and Freshman Taylor Podany (285) both narrowly missed out on placing in the top 4, with Khris Sawyer (174), Anthony Patnode (125), and Jordan Russell (157) all wrestling tough. The remaining team will make their season debuts at this weekend’s Mercer Bear Invitational in Macon, GA.
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Feuerbacher started the day off strong in the 133 lb bracket, earning pinfall victories over Robbie Resendiz of Cumberland University and unattached wrestler Tyler Hackworth en route to the semifinals. Garcia’s path would be much different, losing his first match against Austin Sams (unattached) of the University of Chattanooga, putting him quickly into the consolation rounds. From there, Garcia would reel off three consecutive wins in impressive fashion with a tech fall victory over Erick Ditchfield from the University of Kentucky (unattached), and decision victories over Nick Johnson from the University of Tennessee and Ryu Ballard from the University of the Cumberlands, earning a spot in the consolation finals.
In the semifinals, Feuerbacher would come up short with a 5-2 loss against Andrew Ferguson, unattached, before pinning Andrew Tillman of the University of the Cumberlands on his way into the consolation finals. Both wrestlers fell short of third place finishes with Feuerbacher losing by 3 points in a 10-7 battle against Billy Ward of Cumberland, and Garcia on the short end of a 5-3 match against Ethan Holbrook, unattached.
Both men eclipsed last season’s 6th place finish by 165 lber Everett Colbert as the highest finish in team history.
Rounding out the Blue Raiders’ 7-man skeleton crew at the event, Senior Everett Colbert (165) and Freshman Taylor Podany (285) both narrowly missed out on placing in the top 4, with Khris Sawyer (174), Anthony Patnode (125), and Jordan Russell (157) all wrestling tough. The remaining team will make their season debuts at this weekend’s Mercer Bear Invitational in Macon, GA.
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