Former Knights power Ashland University to conference crown
Two former West Holmes High School wrestling standouts had a great weekend on the college mats helping power the NCAA Division II 12th ranked Ashland University Eagles to their second straight Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament championship.
2020 WHHS graduate Walker Uhl (Soph.) posted a perfect 4-0 mark over the weekend to claim the 197 pound individual title pushing his season record to 14-6 with 4 fall wins. Uhl opened with a forfeit win in the duals tournament and then scored two fall wins before earning a critical 6-0 decision win. That final victory pushed the Eagles into the lead in their championship dual against Lake Erie College and eventually the team championship.
The duals tournament, held last Friday and Saturday, at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio saw the Eagles receive an opening round bye before a 44-6 pounding of Kentucky Wesleyan University. Ashland advanced to the championship dual after downing Tiffin University 32-12 and the University of Findlay 25-18.
The Eagles, battling injuries in their line-up throughout the tournament, trailed host Lake Erie College 17-9 with four bouts to go and mounted a furious comeback. With a pair of decisions and a fall win, including Uhl’s decision win, the Eagles pulled ahead 21-12. L.E.C. would win at heavyweight by major decision to knot the score at 21-21, but the Eagles would win 22-21 on criteria to sew up their second GMAC crown.
And, the team conference title was directed by 2007 Knights wrestling legend Colt Sponseller, now in his second season as the head coach of the A. U. program.
"It was a huge team effort this weekend," said Sponseller in an A. U. Athletic Department press release. "Guys had to step up and fill the lineup and get wins, and they did. Bonus points are key, and we had guys go get them."
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Former Knights power Ashland University to conference crown
