ANGOLA, IND. -- The Trine University wrestling team hosted the unscored Trine Invitational at the Keith E. Busse/Steel Dynamics Athletic and Recreation Center in Angola, Ind.
Highlighting the day was a second-place finish by junior Riley Rasler (LaGrange, Ind./Prairie Heights) in the 157-pound bracket. Rasler won his first three bouts all by technical fall starting with a 16-0 win against Andrew Benos of John Carroll (Ohio) University. Rasler then followed that effort with a 20-2 win against Muskegon Community College's Trevor Matson and then an 18-1 margin of victory against Clayton Schirmer from Wilmington (Ohio) College. He went on to face Dalton Leightner from Baldwin Wallace (Ohio) University and defeated his opponent by a 6-1 decision to advance to the title match where he faced Nicholas Sbrocco from Baldwin Wallace. The duo competed in a competitive match, but the edge would go in favor of Sbrocco who went on to claim a 3-2 decision.
The other top performance for Trine was recorded by senior Luke Carver (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) at 184-pounds. Carver began his day with a 7-1 decision in his first match against Indiana Tech's Nick Brandt and then got his second win of the event with a 16-0 technical fall against Thomas Blackwell from John Carroll. Carver fell to the consolation bracket following his next bout in which he was pinned by Wheaton (Ill.) College's Isaac Odell. Carver need just 39 seconds to pin his opponent in his first matchup of the consolation bracket to advance to the third-place match. He was scheduled to face John Carroll's Aiden Whitis, but Carver recorded the win via a medical forfeit and claimed third place.
Other top marks set by Trine competitors during the day included freshman Anthony Eberle (Huntertown, Ind./Carroll) in the 125-pound weight class. Eberle finished with a 2-2 record that included a pair of pins against Zack Gutknecht of Wilmington (1:37) and Alex Cantu from MCC (3:49).
Senior Nick Miller (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider) also went 2-2 on the day with his two victories coming way of a 13-6 decision against Vittorio Santillo from John Carroll a pin against Mount St. (Ohio) Joseph University's Jefferson Bishop in a time of 2:55.
Sophomore Chase Gibson (Coldwater, Mich./Bronson) and freshman Matthew Abraham (Seven Hills, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) both went 2-2 in the 197-pound bracket. Gibson opened his competition with an 11-0 major decision against Jake Renfer of MCC and then pinned Henry Ford College's Lecaray Lewis in his next match (3:27) before falling to the consolation bracket where his day ended by a narrow 3-1 decision. Abraham began his day with an 8-6 loss, but then recorded back-to-back wins by an 11-1 major decision in the consolation bracket against Jake Renfer (MCC) and Logan Beaudoin of Olivet (Mich.) College.
Trine will host the Trine Duals next Saturday, Nov. 23.