FINDLAY, Ohio -- Four Davis & Elkins College wrestlers competed at the annual Findlay Open, one of the toughest tournaments of the year. This year's field included four of NCAA Division II's top 10 teams, 10 of the top 25, four Division I programs, the third-ranked Division III team, the sixth- and eighth-ranked NAIA teams, and a 2024 Olympic Team Qualifier place-winner. The Senators left the event with three victories.
Senior co-captain Bradden Galassi (Jackson, N.J.) went 2-2 on the day, earning his first two wins of the 2024-25 season. Galassi opened in the preliminary round with a first-period fall against an opponent from the University of Indianapolis. He followed with another first-period fall, this time over Glenville State College. Galassi's run ended with losses to opponents from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (11-2) and Campbellsville University (19-8). His record now stands at 2-4.
Sophomore Gabriel Pujadas (Davenport, Fla.) secured his first on-the-mat win of the season in a 17-12 shootout against an unattached wrestler from Ashland University. He then fell in a 15-4 major decision to another Ashland wrestler and exited the tournament after a first-period fall to a Campbellsville University opponent. Pujadas also holds a 2-4 season record.
Sophomore Gavin Rodriguez-Cayro (Deland, Fla.) competed in two matches, suffering defeats by first- and third-period falls, respectively.
Freshman Wyatt Stemberger (Bluemont, Va.) continues to show progress in his first collegiate season. After a first-period fall in his opening match, Stemberger battled through a 19-10 loss in his second bout, which featured contentious scoring calls. Despite the loss, he displayed resilience by going the distance in his final match.
"The Findlay Open is easily one of the two toughest tournaments we'll attend this season," Head Coach Tom Molony said. "Though we traveled with only four guys, they came out excited, energized, and ready to wrestle. Our guys are scoring more points each week and going deeper into matches and tournaments."
"I'm really proud of these guys. They're bought in, they battled through a tough week, and chose to come all the way to Findlay, even in low numbers, showing that Davis & Elkins wrestling is competitive again and only getting better."
Up Next
The Senators will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 7, when they compete at the Elizabethtown Invitational in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.
RESULTS
Wyatt Stemberger (0-2; 0-4)
L, Fall at - Tyler Hisey (Indiana Tech)
L, 19-10 - Zykhi Sistrunk (Campbellsville)
Gabriel Pujadas (1-2; 2-4)
W, 17-12 - Fernando Lopez (Unattached)
L, 15-4 - Gavin Nelson (Ashland)
L, 15-0 - Tyler Muldrew (Campbellsville)
Bradden Galassi (2-2; 2-4)
W, Fall at 2:14 - Duncan Hand (Indianapolis)
W, Fall at 1:46 - Jeffery Hamel (Glenville State)
L, 11-2 - Crosby Schlosser (UW-Whitewater)
L, 19-8 - Cohen Bunting (Campbellsville)
Gavin Rodriguez-Cayro (0-2; 0-4)
L, Fall at 2:59 - Christian Chavez (West Liberty)
L, Fall at 6:10 - Brandon Lloyd (McKendree)
