KENT, Oh. – The Bellarmine University wrestling team closed out the 2025 portion at the Tri-State Santa Slam, splitting the day with a 20-14 win over Edinboro before dropping the night cap 18-16 to host Kent State in the Kent State Field House.

In the first dual against Edinboro (0-2), the Knights (2-4) took six of the ten bouts with two bonus point wins. Bellarmine kicked the match off with three straight wins from Damion Ryan (125), Trayce Eckman (133) and AJ Rallo (141). Eckman gave the Knights their first bonus points of the afternoon with a 16-1 tech fall win while Ryan and Rallo took victories by decision. After a loss at 149, Gray Ortis collected his first win of the season at 157, earning a 7-0 decision. Grant O'Dell broke up a pair of wins by the Scots (165, 184) at 174 as he gutted out a 2-1 decision before No. 29 Daulton Mayer capped off the opener with an 11-1 major decision victory as the heavyweight anchor. In the 184-pound match, both Bellarmine (during) and Edinboro (after) were assessed unsportsmanlike conduct penalties with a one-team point deduction each.

Against Kent State (1-3) Eckman, Rallo, O'Dell and Mayer all repeated as victors to go a perfect 2-0 on the day. After losing the opening bout, the Knights bounced back with consecutive wins from Eckman and Rallo as Eckman collected his second bonus point victory of the day with an 18-5 major decision. From there, Kent State took the next three matches before O'Dell got BU back on the board. Another two decision wins for the Golden Flashes sealed the dual win before Mayer ended the night with a win by injury default in the final bout.

Bellarmine (20) vs. Edinboro (14)
125: Damion Ryan (BU) def. Austin Zimmerman (Boro) by DEC, 8-1
133: Trayce Eckman (BU) def. Amonn Ohl (Boro) by TF, 16-1
141: AJ Rallo (BU) def. Jacob Brenneman (Boro) by DEC, 8-2
149: Ryan Michaels (Boro) def. Zac Cowan (BU) by MD, 16-3
157: Gray Ortis (BU) def. Garrett McChesney (Boro) by DEC, 7-0
165: Ryan Burgos (Boro) def. Noah Hall (BU) by MD, 18-10
174: Grant O'Dell (BU) def. Tate Geiser (Boro) by DEC, 2-1
184: #14 Jared McGill (Boro) def. Jack Ring (BU) by MD, 18-4
197: Brody Evans (Boro) def. Thadd Huff (BU) by DEC, 9-3
285: #29 Daulton Mayer (BU) def. Aden Roe (Boro) by MD, 11-1
 
Bellarmine (16) at Kent State (18)
125: Nico Callelo (KSU) def. Damion Ryan (BU) by SV-1, 4-1
133: Trayce Eckman (BU) def. Nick Molchak (KSU) by MD, 18-5
141: AJ Rallo (BU) def. Mason Tieffel (KSU) by DEC, 5-0
149: Silas Stits (KSU) def. Zac Cowan (BU) by SV-1, 9-6
157: Stephen Reese (KSU) def. Gray Ortis (BU) by DEC, 4-1
165: Carson Miller (KSU) def. Noah Hall (BU) by DEC, 8-6
174: Grant O'Dell (BU) def. Ethan Barr (KSU) by DEC, 6-3
184: Trent Thomas (KSU) def. Gavin Ricketts (BU) by DEC, 4-2
197: Blake Schaffer (KSU) def. Andrew Liber (BU) by DEC, 3-0
285: #29 Daulton Mayer (BU) def. Brentan Simmerman (KSU) by Inj. Def., 1:11

Bellarmine wrestling will return the mat in January with a pair of open tournaments January 3-4 as the Knights will compete at the Southern Scuffle and Soldier Salute.

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