CORBIN, Ky. – On Saturday morning, the Midway men's wrestling team opened its 2022-23 campaign when it competed in the Patriot Open hosted by Cumberlands (Ky.). The Eagles had two wrestlers place in the freshman/sophomore division and eight grapplers earn at least one win in the highly competitive field of 21 teams.
Nolan Jones (Fenton, Mo.) started his fourth-place weekend in the freshman/sophomore bracket of the 149-pound division with a 16-4 major decision loss to Rocco Vargas of Southeastern (Fla.) but rebounded in the consolation bracket with an 18-7 major decision victory against Pasqual Velasquez of Cumberlands. Jones then claimed his next two victories by fall over Trey Childress of Brewton-Parker (Ga.) and Dregen Murray of Oklahoma Wesleyan.
In the consolation semifinals, Jones picked up his fourth victory of the day when he earned an 11-4 decision against Mackandle Freeman of Rio Grande (Ohio). Jones then wrapped up his day with a loss by fall in the third-place match against Zach Wilson of Marian (Ind.).
Questapha Lewis (Cartersville, Ga.) started his Saturday with a victory by fall over Nathan Alley of Montreat (N.C.). In the quarterfinals, Lewis picked up a hard fought 12-9 decision victory against Isaiah Holland of Brewton Parker to advance to the semis.
In the championship semifinals, Lewis lost by fall to Michael Schiffhauer of Bellarmine (Ky.) before dropping an 8-2 decision to Frankie Salecdo of Truett-McConnell in the consolation semifinal. Lewis ended his day earning a medical forfeit from Jared Brown of Marian and finished in fifth place.
Brent Hudgins (Cynthiana, Ky.) began his run in the open division of the 157-pound weight class with a win by fall over Dylan Washburn of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) before dropping a heartbreaking 10-9 decision to Jordan Fulks of Marian. In the consolation bracket, Hudgins started with a 7-1 win against Julian Johnson of Marian before earning a victory by fall against Sam Morris of Cumberlands. His tournament came to an end when he suffered a loss by fall to Jaden New of Life (Ga.).
A pair of Eagles picked up a pair of victories on the opening weekend. Christian Shelby (Lexington, Ky.) won his bouts by technical and fall in the freshman/sophomore 157-pound weight class. Kyler Adams (Wetumpka, Ala.) earned his in the open division at 141 pounds by fall and decision to advance to the quarterfinals before having to drop his last two matches due to medical default.
Picking up a single win on the day for Midway were Noah Barclay (Wetumpka, Ala.), Tyler Norton (Louisville, Ky.) and Tyrique Simms (Huntsville, Ala.). Barclay's pair of losses came to ranked opponents.
Also seeing action for the Eagles at the Patriot Open were Nicolas Payne (Greenbrier, Tenn.) and Andrew Vogeler (Martin, Ky.).
The Midway men's wrestling team will return to the mats next weekend when they travel to Des Moines, Iowa to take part in the highly competitive Grand View Open. The tournament is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET.
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