ADA, Ohio – The West Liberty University wrestling team turned in a solid showing at Saturday's Ohio Northern Invitational on Saturday.
Coach Brian Davis' Hilltoppers finished eighth in a power-packed field featuring some of the top NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA squads in the region. West Liberty wrestlers placed in seven of the 10 weight classes.
Eric Antesberger led the way with a runner-up finish at 165 pounds. The Hilltopper standout dropped a tough 2-0 decision to Tiffin's Chase Boyd in the championship match after rolling through the preliminaries with a pair of major decisions and a first-period fall.
Joel Paolo and Zach Brown each advanced to the championship semifinals in their respective weight classes. Paolo finished third at 149 pounds with Brown claiming fourth place at 125.
Aaron Silverio was fifth at 285 with Jordan Nolan taking the sixth spot at 174 pounds. Anthony Craig (141) and Danny Doyle (184) rounded out the West Liberty place-winners with eighth-place finishes.
Olivet (Mich.) amassed 148 points to hold off Alma (Mich.), which finished with 143 points, for the team title. Tiffin was third at 132 with Campbellsville (113) and Lindsey Wilson (102) rounding out the top five.
The Hilltoppers head to Indianapolis next weekend for the annual Midwest Classic.
Ohio Northern Invitational
Team Scoring
1. Olivet 148 2. Alma 143 3. Tiffin 132 4. Campbellsville 113.5 5. Lindsey Wilson 102 6. Lycoming 97 7. Ohio Northern 88 8. WEST LIBERTY 87.5 9. Heidelberg 92.5 10. Waynesburg 61 11. Trine 54.5 12. Washington & Lee 34.5 13. Findlay 28 14. Mount St. Joseph 15 15. Muskingum 12
West Liberty Placers
Championship Finals
165: Chase Boyd (Tiffin) d. Eric Antesberger (WLU), 2-0
Championship Semifinals
125: Tyler Foley (Alma) d. Zach Brown (WLU), 3-1, SV-1
149: Kyle Witgen (Olivet) d. Joel Paolo (WLU), 4-2
165: Eric Antesberger (WLU) d. Nolan Barger (Lycoming), 11-8 (2 majors, 1st-period fall)
Third Place
125: Giuseppe Penzone (Tiffin) d. Zach Brown (WLU), 7-1
149: Joel Paolo (WLU) d. James Carey (Alma), 3-2
Fifth Place
174: Alex Bair (Ohio Northern) d. Jordan Nolan (WLU), 7-2
285: Aaron Silverio (WLU) d. Chico Adams (Lindsey Wilson), 4-3, TB-2
Seventh Place
141: Collin Haag (Trine) wbf. Anthony Craig (WLU), forfeit
184: Cory Livingston (Alma) wbf. Danny Doyle (WLU), forfeit
125
Champ. Round 1 - Zach Brown (West Liberty University) received a bye
125
Champ. Round 2 - Zach Brown (West Liberty University) over David Moore (Trine University) (MD 11-0)
125
Quarterfinals - Zach Brown (West Liberty University) over Gordan Bieber (Waynesburg) (TB-1 2-0)
125
Semifinals - Tyler Foley (Alma College) over Zach Brown (West Liberty University) (SV-1 3-1)
125
Cons. Semis - Zach Brown (West Liberty University) over Michael Schmidt (Olivet) (Dec 2-0)
125
3rd Place Match - Giuseppe Penzone (Tiffin University) over Zach Brown (West Liberty University) (Dec 7-1)
133
Champ. Round 1 - Joe Brodman (Heidelberg) over Joe Wagstaff (West Liberty University) (Dec 7-0)
133
Cons. Round 1 - Joe Wagstaff (West Liberty University) received a bye
133
Cons. Round 2 - Joe Wagstaff (West Liberty University) over Dean Roberts (Olivet) (For.)
133
Cons. Round 3 - Joe Wagstaff (West Liberty University) over Charlie Heyob (Mount St. Joseph) (Dec 4-2)
133
Cons. Round 4 - Felix Casa del Valle (Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)) over Joe Wagstaff (West Liberty University) (Dec 3-1)
141
Champ. Round 1 - Ali Ayache (Alma College) over Cole Nace (West Liberty University) (Dec 3-2)
141
Cons. Round 1 - Cole Nace (West Liberty University) received a bye
141
Cons. Round 2 - Cole Nace (West Liberty University) over Jeffry Helm (Trine University) (TF 17-2 4:56)
141
Cons. Round 3 - Cole Nace (West Liberty University) over Logan Hatfield (Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)) (Dec 7-4)
141
Cons. Round 4 - Caleb Willey (Lycoming) over Cole Nace (West Liberty University) (MD 14-5)
141
Champ. Round 1 - Anthony Craig (West Liberty University) received a bye
141
Champ. Round 2 - Anthony Craig (West Liberty University) over Jeffry Helm (Trine University) (Dec 10-4)
141
Quarterfinals - Dominick Trevino (Olivet) over Anthony Craig (West Liberty University) (MD 10-1)
141
Cons. Round 4 - Anthony Craig (West Liberty University) over Dylan Dolph (Ohio Northern) (Dec 10-3)
141
Cons. Round 5 - Zachary Britton (Lycoming) over Anthony Craig (West Liberty University) (Dec 11-5)
141
7th Place Match - Collin Haag (Trine University) over Anthony Craig (West Liberty University) (M. For.)
165
Champ. Round 1 - Eric Antesberger (West Liberty University) over Steven Murray (Heidelberg) (MD 9-0)
165
Champ. Round 2 - Eric Antesberger (West Liberty University) over JayCee Jensen (Trine University) (Fall 1:25)
165
Quarterfinals - Eric Antesberger (West Liberty University) over Dylan Jensen (Olivet) (MD 14-3)
165
Semifinals - Eric Antesberger (West Liberty University) over Nolan Barger (Lycoming) (Dec 11-8)
165
1st Place Match - Chase Boyd (Tiffin University) over Eric Antesberger (West Liberty University) (Dec 2-0)
165
Champ. Round 1 - DeMadre Turner (West Liberty University) over Myles Wright (Heidelberg) (For.)
165
Champ. Round 2 - Chase Boyd (Tiffin University) over DeMadre Turner (West Liberty University) (Dec 4-2)
165
Cons. Round 2 - Steven Murray (Heidelberg) over DeMadre Turner (West Liberty University) (Fall 2:00)
184
Champ. Round 1 - Danny Doyle (West Liberty University) over Nathan McCown (Ohio Northern) (Dec 9-3)
184
Champ. Round 2 - Danny Doyle (West Liberty University) over Christopher Baker (Tiffin University) (Dec 6-4)
184
Quarterfinals - Richard Dowdley (Heidelberg) over Danny Doyle (West Liberty University) (Dec 11-4)
184
Cons. Round 4 - Danny Doyle (West Liberty University) over Patrick Jennings (Waynesburg) (Dec 3-2)
184
Cons. Round 5 - Caleb Huff (Alma College) over Danny Doyle (West Liberty University) (Dec 11-4)
184
7th Place Match - Cory Livingston (Alma College) over Danny Doyle (West Liberty University) (M. For.)
174
Champ. Round 1 - Jordon Nolan (West Liberty University) over Patrick Brown (Heidelberg) (For.)
174
Champ. Round 2 - Jordon Nolan (West Liberty University) over Max Dole (Ohio Northern) (Dec 6-2)
174
Quarterfinals - Jamie Jakes (Alma College) over Jordon Nolan (West Liberty University) (MD 20-7)
174
Cons. Round 4 - Jordon Nolan (West Liberty University) over Kyle Carter (Olivet) (Fall 3:50)
174
Cons. Round 5 - Jordon Nolan (West Liberty University) over Sam Guidi (Waynesburg) (Dec 8-2)
174
Cons. Semis - travis McIntosh (Campbellsville (Ky.)) over Jordon Nolan (West Liberty University) (TF 17-1 6:32)
174
5th Place Match - Alex Bair (Ohio Northern) over Jordon Nolan (West Liberty University) (Dec 7-2)
285
Champ. Round 1 - Aaron Silverio (West Liberty University) over Cameron Lee (Alma College) (Dec 4-1)
285
Champ. Round 2 - Aaron Silverio (West Liberty University) over Garrett Hyatt (Olivet) (Dec 7-3)
285
Quarterfinals - Cody Lovejoy (Ohio Northern) over Aaron Silverio (West Liberty University) (Fall 2:52)
285
Cons. Round 4 - Aaron Silverio (West Liberty University) over Ryan Steverson (Olivet) (Dec 6-0)
285
Cons. Round 5 - Aaron Silverio (West Liberty University) over Youseff El-Sayed (Olivet) (Dec 4-0)
285
Cons. Semis - Nino Majoy (Heidelberg) over Aaron Silverio (West Liberty University) (Fall 8:30)
285
5th Place Match - Aaron Silverio (West Liberty University) over Chico Adams (Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)) (TB-2 4-3)
149
Champ. Round 1 - Joel Paolo (West Liberty University) received a bye
149
Champ. Round 2 - Joel Paolo (West Liberty University) over Jordan Kaeck (Muskingum) (MD 11-1)
149
Quarterfinals - Joel Paolo (West Liberty University) over Evan Morgan (Ohio Northern) (MD 8-0)
149
Semifinals - Kyle Witgen (Olivet) over Joel Paolo (West Liberty University) (Dec 4-2)
149
Cons. Semis - Joel Paolo (West Liberty University) over Seth Lansberry (Lycoming) (Dec 5-4)
149
3rd Place Match - Joel Paolo (West Liberty University) over James Carey (Alma College) (Dec 3-2)
197
Champ. Round 1 - Thomas Hall (Olivet) over Joey Congie (West Liberty University) (Fall 1:41)
197
Cons. Round 1 - Joey Congie (West Liberty University) received a bye
197
Cons. Round 2 - Joey Congie (West Liberty University) over Chris Risch (Mount St. Joseph) (Dec 7-5)
197
Cons. Round 3 - Anthony Mancuso (Lycoming) over Joey Congie (West Liberty University) (TB-1 5-1)