Wrestling: Jimenez leads Badgers with runner-up finish at MSU Open

[BuckySaunders]

Johnny Jimenez (125 pounds) recorded a runner-up at the Michigan State Open in East Lansing, Mich. on Sunday.

Jimenez posted a record of 3-1 on the day to record the best finish among the 15 Badgers who took part in the open competition.

The sophomore topped Aaron Assad of Missouri 3-2 in the opening match before topping Ben Thorton (Purdue) 4-3 in the quarterfinals. Jimenez then earned a 12-10 decision over Central Michigan’s Carter Ballinger in the semifinals before being pinned by Paul Petrov (Bucknell) in the third period of the championship match.

Petrov is currently ranked No.13 in the nation at 125, according to FloWrestling.

In total, nine UW wrestlers placed. Rylan Lubeck (149), TJ Ruschell (157), and Ryan Christensen (184) each placed fourth, while Jake Stilling (184) and Andrew Crone (149) each finished fifth.

Jared Scharebrock (157) placed seventh, while Jens Lantz (133) and Brock Horwath (285) were eighth.

Lantz lost the seventh place match by injury default. No other information on his status was available as of this writing.

Ricky Robertson (174), who came into the day ranked tenth, got off to a 2-0 start before suffering a pair of upsets.

Robertson fell to Dylan Wisman (Missouri) 8-4 in the quarterfinals before being upended by No.19 Jadaen Bernstein of Navy 8-5 in consolation action.

In total, the 13 Wisconsin wrestlers who took part in the open competition compiled a 39-26 record.

Wisconsin wrestlers went just 1-8 against ranked opponents on Sunday.

Crone fell to No.11 Colin Heffernan (Central Michigan) 7-5 in the quarterfinals, but bounce back with a 6-2 win over No.20 Victor Lopez (Bucknell) in the consolation semis.

Scharenbrock dropped an 8-4 decision to No.12 Luke Smith (Central Michigan) in the quarterfinals. Smith went on to deal Ruschell a 3-2 loss in the semis. Ruschell went on to lose the third place match to No.16 Sparty Chino (Ohio) by the same score.

Chino topped Santonio Cathery 8-0 in the quarterfinals earlier in the day.

Stilling was pinned by No.14 Mathew Miller (Navy) in the quarterfinals.

Wisconsin also had nine wrestlers competing in the freshman/sophomore brackets.

Hunter Ritter claimed the title at 184 pounds with a 6-4 win over Michigan State’s Shwan Sahdaia in the championship bout.

Cole Martin (141) finished third, Eli Stickley (141) and Mason Reinhardt (184) each took fifth and Ben Stone (285) placed seventh.

The nine athletes in the freshman/sophomore brackets put together a record of 26-11.

UW is back in action Saturday as they take part in the Navy Classic.

The post Wrestling: Jimenez leads Badgers with runner-up finish at MSU Open appeared first on Madtown Badgers.

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