EWL serves as Edinboro’s ticket to NCAA Championship

125 pounds: Sean Russell

By all rights Russell should have the path of least resistance to St Louis. For the EWL, they are taking the top three wrestlers to the tournament. Russell has to place third or better to qualify. Russell is currently ranked ninth, according to Flo Wrestling, and there are no other EWL wrestlers ranked in the top 20.

133 pounds: Korbin Myers

Myers will have to make it to the championship match in order to qualify for the national tournament. Myers is currently ranked #17, according to Flo Wrestling. No other EWL wrestler is ranked in the top 20 at this time.

141 pounds: Ozzy Lugo

Lugo will have an uphill climb as he is currently unranked at this weight class. Meanwhile, the EWL has two ranked wrestlers at this weight class in Brock Zacherl, of Clarion, ranked #19 and Ronnie Perry, of Lock Haven, ranked #20. Lugo will be looking to avenge his early season 11-5 loss to Zacherl. The EWL will send the top two wrestlers to the national tournament.

149 pounds: Patricio Lugo

Lugo is currently ranked #6, according to Flo Wrestling. EWL currently has no one ranked in the top 20 at this time. Lugo is coming off of his final dual win against #3 ranked Brandon Sorenson of Iowa in overtime. He should be able to make it to the championship round at the EWL tournament. The EWL is sending the top two wrestlers to the national tournament.

157 pounds: Chase Delande

Delande will have to win this bracket outright if he wants to move on to the national tournament. The EWL only received one automatic bid.Ahead of him is #16 ranked BJ Clagon from Rider. Delande possesses the skills to make the championship match in the EWL Tournament, but will have to find another gear versus Clagon. The last time these two faced off Delande lost by a score of 7-3.

165 pounds: Austin Mathews

Mathews will have to make it to the championship match of the EWL tournament to qualify for the national tournament. Mathews is currently ranked #10, according to Flo Wrestling. Ahead of him is Chad Walsh, of Rider, ranked at #5. Walsh holds a victory over Mathews from when they met in a dual match earlier in the year by a score of 8-4.

174 pounds: Ty Schoffstall

Schoffstall is one of the most electrifying wrestlers on this Edinboro squad. Currently, he is unranked, but neither is anyone else from the EWL at this time. Schoffstall also holds wins over all the other EWL wrestlers at this weight class. If Schoffstall wishes to advance, he will have to beat them again and win his weight class to advance to the national tournament.

184 pounds: Dakota Geer

Geer is currently ranked #15, according Flo Wrestling. The EWL has no other ranked wrestler in the top 20. In order to advance, Geer will have to win his bracket. Geer, the true freshman, has had an outstanding season this far. He has beaten all EWL opponents he has faced this year.

197 pounds: Dylan Reynolds

Reynolds will have to also win his bracket in order to advance to the national tournament. In order to do that, he will have to get past #10 ranked Ryan Wolfe of Rider. Reynolds has not faced Wolfe yet this season. Reynolds has been in a lot of close matches against tough completion this season.

285 pounds Heavyweight: Billy Miller

Miller, who is ranked #13 by Flo Wrestling, will likely face his nemesis this season in #12 ranked Thomas Haines of Lock Haven. Haines has two wins over Miller this season. Both losses were by the slim margin of 4-3. 

The EWL will be sending two wrestlers at this weight class. More than likely, it will be Miller versus Haines for the EWL title with both wrestlers moving on to the national tournament. 

George Schmidt is a sports writer for the Spectator and can be reached at sports.spectator@gmail.com