LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Five Bellarmine University wrestlers took home first place honors in the Knights opening weekend. All four wins came at the Patriot Open on Saturday in Williamsburg, Ky. The team also competed on Sunday at the Clarion Open in Clarion, Pa. where a third-place finish was Bellarmine's highest mark.
 
 "The Patriot Open was a great way for our young guys to kick off the year. They were able to get a bunch of matches and a ton of information for their training moving forward," said head coach Ned Shuck. "We are really pleased with our young group and how they are contributing to our team!"
 
At the Patriot Open, hosted by the University of the Cumberlands, Bellarmine sent 26 wrestlers to compete, most of whom were freshmen making their collegiate debuts. The young Knights showed real strength in the team's opening event as eight true freshman earned podium finishes. The group was led by Leland Reeves (133), David Mayora (149), Dillon Graham (157), Cael Miller (165) and Tyler Schott (285) who all won the FR/SO division of their weight class. Reeves, Miller and Schott all went 5-0 in the event with Reeves notching a fall in the first round. Mayora and Graham turned in 6-0 resumes with Mayora tallying two falls and Graham adding one. Noah Hall earned a second-place finish in the 165 open division. Joe Calvin (125) and Grant Anderson (197) placed third in their respective divisions, notching a fall each, while Aiden Butler (184) rounded out the group with a sixth-place finish.
 
Senior Will Muckler finished fourth in the open heavyweight division with redshirt-freshman Jewell Williams taking fifth in the 157 open division. Fellow redshirt freshman Christian Moder (165) finished sixth in the event.
 
The Knights sent a veteran group to the Clarion Open, hosted by Clarion University, and face a much tougher field of competition. Redshirt-sophomore Grant O'Dell led the charge with a third-place finish in the 174-lb. weight class. Redshirt-junior and SoCon Preseason All-Conference selection Zac Cowan was close to a podium finish, placing fourth in the 149-lb. weight class.
 
"The Clarion Open was the best performance I've seen yet out of a Bellarmine Wrestling team since I've been here," Shuck said. "We had an incredible team performance with consistent fight and energy from all of our men!"
 
Senior Cole Nance (165) took home a fifth-place finish while redshirt-junior Jack Parker (125), redshirt-sophomore Trayce Eckman (133) and redshirt-freshman Andrew Liber (197) all placed sixth.
 
"I knew they would be excited, but they stepped up to the challenge and thrived in every way.  The growth they continue to demonstrate is inspiring and really fun to be a part of as their coach," Shuck added.
 
Up next, Bellarmine will return home to host its biggest dual in program history as the Knights welcome #2 Iowa to Knights Hall on Friday, November 15. Tickets for the Knights vs. Hawkeyes are available at buknightstix.com.
 
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