LITTLE ROCK – With 25 pins and seven bracket champions, it's safe to say their first-ever home tournament got the Little Rock wrestling team off to a hot start. But head coach
Neil Erisman says it better: "It was pretty stinking cool."
"It was cool for us and our fans to see our guys wrestle more than one match," said Coach Erisman on the atmosphere at the inaugural Trojan Open. "Being able to have an all-day event where it simulates what we do at the end of the season, that's the fun part."
"Overall, I was really impressed," continued Coach Erisman. "I feel like we've really grown up. The number of points we scored today might equal more than the entire amount of points we scored last year, and I feel like that's a huge improvement. I saw a lot of areas where we still need to get better, but overall, it was a good day."
Redshirt sophomore
Tyler Brennan highlighted the afternoon with three pins in three matches to win the 165-pound bracket, all in the first period.
"It's been 604 days since he stepped on the mat for Little Rock," added Coach Erisman. "He came back, and he didn't miss a beat; he looked unbelievable."
Jaylen Carson and
Joseph Bianchi both went 4-0, both picking up two falls and two decisions en route to their championships at 133 and 149, respectively.
In his first appearance for the Trojans, junior
Chase Tebbets won the 157-pound bracket, also going four straight and adding a pin to his victories.
Triston Wills was a perfect 3-0 on his way to being crowned champion of the 174-pound bracket, also collecting a fall. Similarly, true freshman
Matty Bianchi charged through his bracket, finishing at the top of the 141-pound class with an unblemished 3-0 record.
Finally,
Tanner Mendoza tallied a 4-0 day at 184 pounds, earning a fall and two major decisions in a loaded Little Rock bracket where the Trojans swept the top four spots.
Several Trojans had to wrestle their teammates in the final round, leaving a few Little Rock wrestlers as runners-up despite winning records. Those included
Aidan Campbell (133),
Cade Manion (141),
Austin Keal (149),
Alex Hernandez (174), and
Mason Diel (184). Even more Trojans placed (final results posted below). Full results from today are posted on TrackWrestling under the tournament Little Rock Trojan Open.
The Trojans look to continue their momentum next week as they travel to the state of Wisconsin to take on the Badgers on Friday, Nov. 12.
"Our goal is to beat Wisconsin, but we're also trying to prepare for the entire year," added Coach Erisman. "So we're going to train through this week, work through a lot of different things, keep our schedule, be consistent, and Friday, we're going to see a dog fight."
Little Rock Results
125
- Quarterfinal - Jayden Carson (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over John Raymundo (Ozarks) (Fall 2:26)
- Quarterfinal - Nathan Rankin (Ozarks) won by decision over Josh Sarpy (Little Rock-Unattached) (Dec 8-4)
- Semifinal - Jayden Carson (Little Rock-Unattached) won by tech fall over Wade Landrum (Oklahoma Wesleyan) (TF 20-3)
- Cons. Round 1 - Josh Sarpy (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Jake Stanton (Oklahoma Wesleyan) (Fall 2:29)
- Cons. Semi - Josh Sarpy (Little Rock-Unattached) won by major decision over Wade Landrum (Oklahoma Wesleyan) (Maj 11-3)
- 3rd Place Match - Josh Sarpy (Little Rock-Unattached) won by medical forfeit over Jaxson Roney (Carl Albert) (MFF)
- 1st Place Match - Nathan Rankin (Ozarks) won by decision over Jayden Carson (Little Rock-Unattached) (Dec 9-7)
133
- Champ. Round 1 - Jaylen Carson (Little Rock) won by fall over Walker Fox (Ozarks) (Fall 3:26)
- Champ. Round 1 - Aidan Campbell (Little Rock) won by decision over Kolby Encinas (Oklahoma Wesleyan) (Dec 3-0)
- Quarterfinal - Jaylen Carson (Little Rock) won by fall over Rj Jones (Carl Albert) (Fall 1:32)
- Quarterfinal - Aidan Campbell (Little Rock) won by decision over Gabriel Brandenburg (Ozarks) (Dec 10-3)
- Semifinal - Jaylen Carson (Little Rock) won by decision over Jacob Schwenker (Carl Albert) (Dec 9-2)
- Semifinal - Aidan Campbell (Little Rock) won in sudden victory - 1 over Jacob Zimmer (Independent) (SV-1 2-1)
- 1st Place Match - Jaylen Carson (Little Rock) won by decision over Aidan Campbell (Little Rock) (Dec 6-0)
141
- Champ. Round 1 - Cade Manion (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Cody Price (Ozarks) (Fall 4:25)
- Quarterfinal - Matty Bianchi (Little Rock-Unattached) won by decision over Jake Dado (Ozarks) (Dec 7-3)
- Quarterfinal - Cade Manion (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Hudson Herring (Ouachita Baptist) (Fall 2:50)
- Semifinal - Matty Bianchi (Little Rock-Unattached) won by major decision over Cooper Evans (Carl Albert) (Maj 14-3)
- Semifinal - Cade Manion (Little Rock-Unattached) won by decision over Zander Fields (Ouachita Baptist) (Dec 9-4)
- 1st Place Match - Matty Bianchi (Little Rock-Unattached) won by decision over Cade Manion (Little Rock-Unattached) (Dec 4-2)
149
- Champ. Round 1 - Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) won by decision over Jaylen York (Ozarks) (Dec 3-1)
- Champ. Round 1 - Austin Keal (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Dustin Calhoun (Ozarks) (Fall 1:04)
- Quarterfinal - Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) won by fall over Jason Carson Ii (Independent) (Fall 5:32)
- Quarterfinal - Austin Keal (Little Rock-Unattached) won by major decision over Tristen Butler (Carl Albert) (Maj 9-0)
- Semifinal - Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) won by fall over Jaylon Otero (Ouachita Baptist) (Fall 0:54)
- Semifinal - Austin Keal (Little Rock-Unattached) won by decision over Kayson Kenney (Carl Albert) (Dec 6-4)
- 1st Place Match - Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) won by decision over Austin Keal (Little Rock-Unattached) (Dec 6-4)
157
- Champ. Round 1 - Chase Tebbets (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Russell Miller (Ozarks) (Fall 1:48)
- Quarterfinal - Chase Tebbets (Little Rock-Unattached) won by major decision over Alejandro Mas (Central Baptist) (Maj 14-5)
- Quarterfinal - Jackson Carter (Ouachita Baptist) won in sudden victory over Cayden Auch (Little Rock-Unattached) (SV-1 8-6)
- Cons. Round 3 - Cayden Auch (Little Rock-Unattached) won by tech fall over Russell Miller (Ozarks) (TF 18-0)
- Cons. Semi - Cayden Auch (Little Rock-Unattached) won by major decision over Roger Vislosky (Independent) (Maj 11-2)
- Semifinal - Chase Tebbets (Little Rock-Unattached) won by decision over Roger Vislosky (Independent) (Dec 8-3)
- 3rd Place Match - Jared Hill (Independent) won by decision over Cayden Auch (Little Rock-Unattached) (Dec 8-5)
- 1st Place Match - Chase Tebbets (Little Rock-Unattached) won by decision over Jackson Carter (Ouachita Baptist) (Dec 7-5)
165
- Quarterfinal - Tyler Brennan (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Ndayambaje John (Ozarks) (Fall 1:43)
- Semifinal - Tyler Brennan (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Joaquin Bautista (Ozarks) (Fall 1:35)
- 1st Place Match - Tyler Brennan (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Christian Richer (Central Baptist) (Fall 1:20)
174
- Champ. Round 1 - Ty Lukens (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over David Reyes (Carl Albert) (Fall 4:54)
- Quarterfinal - Triston Wills (Little Rock) won by fall over Brady Marple (Ouachita Baptist) (Fall 2:21)
- Quarterfinal - Ty Lukens (Little Rock-Unattached) won by tech fall over Jake Sheehy (Ouachita Baptist) (TF 18-2)
- Quarterfinal - Alex Hernandez (Little Rock-Unattached) won by injury default over Kade McMahon (Ozarks) (Inj. 1:50)
- Quarterfinal - Adrian Salazar - Rivera (Ouachita Baptist) won in sudden victory - 1 over Will Edgar (Little Rock-Unattached) (SV-1 5-3)
- Cons. Round 2 - Will Edgar (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over David Reyes (Carl Albert) (Fall 3:34)
- Cons. Round 3 - Brady Marple (Ouachita Baptist) won by fall over Will Edgar (Little Rock-Unattached) (Fall 1:00)
- Semifinal - Triston Wills (Little Rock) won by major decision over Adrian Salazar - Rivera (Ouachita Baptist) (Maj 13-4)
- Semifinal - Alex Hernandez (Little Rock-Unattached) won in tie breaker - 1 over Ty Lukens (Little Rock-Unattached) (TB-1 2-2, RT :19)
- Cons. Semi - Ty Lukens (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Brady Marple (Ouachita Baptist) (Fall 2:08)
- 3rd Place Match - Ty Lukens (Little Rock-Unattached) won by decision over Adrian Salazar - Rivera (Ouachita Baptist) (Dec 7-0)
- 1st Place Match - Triston Wills (Little Rock) won by decision over Alex Hernandez (Little Rock-Unattached) (Dec 9-3)
184
- Champ. Round 1 - Brayden Dillow (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Trace Morrow (Ouachita Baptist) (Fall 1:13)
- Champ. Round 1 - Tanner Mendoza (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Rey Reyes (Ouachita Baptist) (Fall 4:19)
- Quarterfinal - Brayden Dillow (Little Rock-Unattached) won by decision over Raymond Murrey (Central Baptist) (Dec 5-0)
- Quarterfinal - Mason Diel (Little Rock-Unattached) won by decision over Will Martin (Ouachita Baptist) (Dec 2-0)
- Quarterfinal - Tanner Mendoza (Little Rock-Unattached) won by major decision over Airamis Mendoza (Ozarks) (Maj 12-3)
- Quarterfinal - Zane Davis (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Vincent Christy (Ozarks) (Fall 4:29)
- Semifinal - Tanner Mendoza (Little Rock-Unattached) won by major decision over Brayden Dillow (Little Rock-Unattached) (Maj 11-2)
- Semifinal - Mason Diel (Little Rock-Unattached) won by major decision over Zane Davis (Little Rock-Unattached) (Maj 13-4)
- Cons. Semi - Brayden Dillow (Little Rock-Unattached) won by major decision over Will Martin (Ouachita Baptist) (Maj 10-2)
- Cons. Semi - Zane Davis (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Matthew Santos (Carl Albert) (Fall 5:18)
- 3rd Place Match - Brayden Dillow (Little Rock-Unattached) won by decision over Zane Davis (Little Rock-Unattached) (Dec 5-4)
- 1st Place Match - Tanner Mendoza (Little Rock-Unattached) won by decision over Mason Diel (Little Rock-Unattached) (Dec 7-5)
197
- Round 1 - Brooks Sacharczyk (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Matthew Weinert (Little Rock-Unattached) (Fall 1:10)
- Round 2 - Daniel Benoit (Ozarks) won by decision over Matthew Weinert (Little Rock-Unattached) (Dec 4-2)
- Round 2 - Brooks Schrimsher (Ouachita Baptist) won by decision over Brooks Sacharczyk (Little Rock-Unattached) (Dec 5-4)
- Round 3 - Matthew Weinert (Little Rock-Unattached) won by fall over Ryan Cochran (Ouachita Baptist) (Fall 2:57)
- Round 3 - Daniel Benoit (Ozarks) won by decision over Brooks Sacharczyk (Little Rock-Unattached) (Dec 4-0)
- Round 4 - Brooks Schrimsher (Ouachita Baptist) won by decision over Matthew Weinert (Little Rock-Unattached) (Dec 9-2)
- Round 5 - Brooks Sacharczyk (Little Rock-Unattached) won by tech fall over Ryan Cochran (Ouachita Baptist) (TF 16-1)
285
- Champ. Round 1 - Josiah Hill (Little Rock) won by major decision over Cruz Partain (Ozarks) (Maj 14-3)
- Quarterfinal - Josiah Hill (Little Rock) won by tech fall over Shayne Parris (Central Baptist) (TF 21-4)
- Semifinal - Josiah Hill (Little Rock) won by fall over Darron Harvey (Arkansas Baptist) (Fall 4:39)
- 1st Place Match - Josiah Hill (Little Rock) medical forfeit (MFF)
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