Duke Wrestlers Shine at Davidson Wildcat Open
In an impressive display of grit and determination, eight Duke wrestlers traveled to Davidson this past weekend to compete in the Davidson Wildcat Open. With standout performances, two Blue Devils battled their way into the finals, and six recorded multiple victories, showcasing the depth of talent on the team.
Key Performances
Eddie Radecki made a strong run at 149 pounds, finishing as the runner-up. His journey included a commanding 13-2 major decision over No. 2 seed Ryan Phillips of Campbell and a solid 10-7 decision against No. 3 seed Hayden Hughes of Chattanooga.
At 184 pounds, Dash Hort put on a show by advancing to the championship match. He started the day with a stunning 13-2 major decision over top-seed Brant Cracraft from Campbell.
Noah Kochman, wrestling at 141 pounds, finished with a 2-2 record. His highlight was defeating fourth-seeded Charleston Baglio of Gardner-Webb in the quarterfinals, leading to a spot in the consolation finals.
Peter Chacon had a strong showing at 157 pounds, ending with a 3-2 record. He strung together impressive back-to-back wins by pinning Mount Olive's Abriel Padilla and Bardley Williams of Stronghold in the consolation bracket.
Logan Richey also went 3-2 at 197 pounds, including a victory over No. 3 seed Edison Flores from Gardner-Webb in the quarterfinals, ultimately reaching the consolation semifinal.
Ryan Beirne, competing at 165 pounds, split his matches with a 2-2 record. He secured wins against opponents from The Citadel and UNC Pembroke in the consolation bracket.
Colin Lutz started strong by pinning No. 6 seed Christian Hale-Anderson of Presbyterian at 157 pounds but finished the day 1-2.
Eli Murray faced tough competition at 157 pounds, dropping both of his matches.
Noteworthy Achievements
Freshmen Eddie Radecki and Colin Lutz celebrated their first wins for Duke at the tournament. Ryan Beirne also notched his first collegiate victory during his redshirt freshman season.
Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore Peter Chacon earned his first win of the season with a technical fall against Gardner-Webb's Hunter Jones. Logan Richey's three wins marked his most successful tournament outing in his collegiate career.
Looking Ahead
The Blue Devils are gearing up for their next challenge at the ACC Championship, set for Sunday, March 9, in Blacksburg, Virginia. With the momentum from the Davidson Wildcat Open, Duke's wrestlers are poised to make a significant impact.
Round-by-Round Highlights
- 141 Pounds: Noah Kochman had a thrilling quarterfinal win over Charleston Baglio (10-7 SV-3) but fell in the semifinals to Nick O'Neill of North Carolina.
- 149 Pounds: Eddie Radecki's journey to the finals was highlighted by a major decision over Ryan Phillips and a fall against Jackson Lambert.
- 157 Pounds: Peter Chacon's path included a technical fall victory and two pins in the consolation bracket.
- 165 Pounds: Ryan Beirne showed resilience with a major decision win over Ajani Redwood and a close decision against Gus Elliott.
- 184 Pounds: Dash Hort's semifinal victory over Quintez Shipman was a testament to his skill and determination.
- 197 Pounds: Logan Richey fought hard, with a major decision in the opening round and a tight quarterfinal win over Edison Flores.
With these performances, Duke's wrestlers have set the stage for an exciting ACC Championship, ready to take on the best in the conference.