SALEM, Va. – Camel heavyweight Taye Ghadiali and 165 Dom Baker each went 4-0 to claim top spots on the podium at the Southeast Open hosted by Virginia Tech at the Cregger Center on the campus of Roanoke College on Saturday.
Ghadiali controlled all four of his matches on the day, starting with a 17-1 tech fall (4:04) over B. Jackson from VMI and Z. Lanham (Life University) in 5:16 (19-4). He followed that up with two consecutive fall victories over Oregon State's No. 21 B. McDermott (6:26) in the semifinals and in the finals over No. 22 ranked M. Wolfgram (3:13) from West Virginia University.
Baker also had two tech falls to start his competition, the first at 5:43 over Maryland's A. Rodrigues. He followed that with a last second tech fall over J. Palmucci from Franklin & Marshall (7:00).
His semifinal victory was a 16-7 major decision of P. Brooks (Life University). In the finals, he faced K. Munro from UT-Chattanooga. The two were tied at 5 after three periods. Baker earned the takedown to take the 8-5 sudden victory.
Along with Ghadiali and Baker, 13 other Camels finished in the top-6 of their respective divisions.
True freshman Chris Earnest continued his hot start to his first collegiate season with a second-place finish. He recorded a tech fall, fall, and two major decision victories on his way to the 157 finals. He faced Virginia Tech's R. Hipolito, who came away with a 6-2 victory.
Other notable placers include Levi Hopkins (second place, 197 open division), Bentley Ellison (third place, 125) and Austin Murphy, (third place, 174 open division).
Below are the full Campbell results. The full Southeast Open results can be found here. Replays of the matches can be found on FloWrestling.
Campbell Results
Individual rankings according to Intermat
125 Pounds
Zander Phaturos (Fifth Place, 5-1)
R32 | W | vs. J. Dawson (Morgan State), Tech Fall (3:41, 18-2)
R16 | W | vs. R. Meek (Ohio), Dec. 8-1
QF | L | vs. M. Mills (WVU), Fall (2:35, 2-3)
Con. R8 #2 | W | vs. M. O'Leary (Ohio), Tech Fall (3:14, 17-1)
Con. SF | W | vs. M. Shore (Tiffin), Tech Fall (3:00, 19-1)
Con. Final | W | vs. Cooper Shore (Campbell), Dec. 7-0
Cooper Shore (Sixth Place, 4-2)
R32 | W | vs. A. Morales (Life), MD 15-2
R16 | W | vs. E. Howe (F&M), Dec. 7-2
QF | L | A. Aniciete (Tiffin), Dec. 4-2
Con. R8 #2 | W | J. Parker (F&M), MD 19-5
Con. SF | W | vs. R. Meek (Ohio), Fall (0:35, 3-0)
Con. Final | L | vs. Zander Phaturos (Campbell), Dec. 7-0
Landon Reaux (2-2)
R32 | W | vs. R. Smith (VMI), Tech Fall (3:28)
R16 | W | vs. D. Boyd (Tiffin), Fall (2:41)
QF | L | vs. B. Skinner (Ohio), Dec. 8-5
Con. R8 #2 | L | vs. R. Meek (Ohio), Dec. 8-6
Bentley Ellison (Third Place, 4-1)
R32 | W | vs. M. O'Leary (Ohio), MD 17-3
R16 | W | vs. M. Policarpio (Roanoke College), MD 14-2
QF | W | vs. M. Shore (Tiffin), Fall (3:42, 6-1)
SF | L | vs. M. Mills (WVU), MD, 10-1
3rd | W | vs. B. Skinner (Ohio), Dec. 4-3
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133 Pounds
Hudson Waldrop (2-2)
R32 | L | vs. H. Robinson (Davidson), Dec. 6-3
Con. R16 | W | vs. P. Woo (Ohio), Dec. 5-3
Con. R16 #2 | W | vs. M. Rogers (MS), MD 8-0
Con. R8 #1 | L | vs. C Hagler (VT), Dec. 3-1
Logan Heil (Open Division) (2-2)
R16 | W | vs. J. Haynes (UVA), MD 10-0
QF | L | vs. M. Leiphart (F&M), Tech Fall (3:08, 16-1)
Con. R8 #2 | W | vs. A. O'Shea (F&M), Dec. 3-1
Con. SF | L | vs. K. Mauger (UVU), Fall (2:40, 7-0)
141 Pounds
Wynton Denkins (Sixth Place, 4-2)
R32 | W | vs. P. Jordon (VMI), Dec. 13-12
R16 | L | vs. D. Lemus (Maryland), Dec. 8-6
Con. R8 #1 | W | vs. D. Diaco (Davidson), Fall (3:40, 5-0)
Con. R8 #2 | W | vs. L. Cravatas (Ohio), Dec. 4-2
Con. SF | W | vs. M. Pizzuto (UMD), Dec. 7-2
5th | L | vs. P. Jordon (VMI), Dec. 6-1
Chris Rivera (Open Division) (Fourth Place, 2-2)
R16 | W | vs. W. Ngyuyen (Limestone), Fall (4:25)
QF | W | vs. P. Phillips (F&M), Fall (9:49, 3-2)
SF | L | vs. #20 C. Belton (Oregon State), Dec. 2-1
3rd | L | vs. # 21 J. Gioffre (UVA), Dec. 5-2
149 Pounds
Oliver Fairchild (1-2)
R32 | W | vs. C. Pearce (UNAFF), Tech Fall (7:00)
R16 | L | vs. L. Roberts (UVA), Fall (1:44)
Con. R16 #2 | L | vs. R. Vigil (VMI), Dec. 7-1
Hagen Heistand (Fifth Place, 6-1)
R32 | W | vs. R. Vigil (VMI), Dec. 4-1
R16 | L | vs. L. Paradice (UNAFF), Dec. 5-3
Con. R16 #2 | W | vs. C. Pearce (UNAFF), Fall (2:55, 11-6)
Con. R8 #1 | W | vs. A. Stepherson (Life), Dec. 15-8
Con. R8 #2 | W | vs. P. Walls (VT), Dec. 5-2
Con. SF | W | vs. L. Roberts (UVA), MD 15-2
5th | W | vs. R. Vigil (VMI), Dec. 7-6
Justin Rivera (Open Division) (2-2)
R16 | L | vs. T. Crook (SERTC), Dec. 9-4
Con. R8 #1 | W | vs. J. Pail (Tiffin), Tech Fall (7:00, 22-6)
Con. R8 #2 | W | vs. M. Dolan (WVU), MD 16-5
Con. SF | L | vs. T. Smith (UVU), Dec. 5-1
Callum Sitek (Open Division) (1-2)
R16 | L | vs. #4 C. Henson (VT), Fall (1:33)
Con. R8 #1 | W | vs. E. White (UNAFF), MD 8-0
Con. R8 #2 | L | vs. T. Crook (SERTC), Fall (6:27, 12-6)
Shannon Hanna (Unattached) (Open Division) (Fourth Place, 2-2)
R16 | W | vs. E. Roggie (UVA), Dec. 4-2
QF | W | vs. I. Delgado (UVU), Dec. 10-5
SF | L | vs. #4 C. Henson (VT), Dec. 5-1
3rd | L | vs. D. Raike (Ohio), Dec. 5-2
157 Pounds
Gunner Endicott (Fifth Place, 5-1)
R32 | W | vs. J. Berry-Bissessar (MS), Tech Fall (1:28)
R16 | W | vs. H. Salomon (VMI), Fall (2:03)
QF | L | vs. R. Hipolito (VT), Tech Fall (5:57, 19-3)
Con. R8 #2 | W | vs. N. Cicciarelli (WVU), Fall (2:00, 3-0)
Con. SF | W | vs. E. Arellano (Tiffin), Dec. 11-4
5th | W | vs. Z. Cox (ROA) Dec. 7-4
Chris Earnest (Second Place, 4-1)
R32 | W | vs. C. Nugent (UNC), Tech Fall (3:00)
R16 | W| vs. B. Ivy (WVU), MD 11-1
QF | W | vs. Z. Cox (ROA), Fall (2:10, 3-0)
SF | W | vs. J. Paradice (UT-C), MD 10-0
Finals | L | vs. R. Hipolito (VT), Dec. 6-2
165 Pounds
Dom Baker (First Place, 4-0)
R16 | W | vs. A. Rodrigues (UMD), Tech Fall (5:43, 19-4)
QF | W | vs. J. Palmucci (F&M), Tech Fall (7:00, 20-5)
SF | W | vs. P. Brooks (Life), MD 16-7
Finals | W | vs. K. Munro (UT-C), Dec. 8-5 SV
Brant Cracraft (Fourth Place, 2-2)
R16 | W | vs. J. Cherry (ROA), Dec. 4-1
QF | W | vs. J. Lledo (Ohio), Dec. 4-2
SF | L | vs. K. Munro (UT-C), Dec. 9-2
3rd | L | vs. P. Brooks (Life), Dec. 5-4
174 Pounds
Logan Heckert (Fourth Place, 3-2)
R32 | W | vs. K. Lee (ROA), Dec. 11-5
R16 | W | vs. R. Moore (F&M), Tech Fall (6:53, 19-3)
QF | W | vs. C. Steinmetz (Tiffin), Tech Fall (3:00, 17-2)
SF| L | vs. B. Lewis (VMI), Tech Fall (5:20, 17-0)
3rd | L | vs. J. Stacey (UNAFF), Dec. 9-6
#30 Austin Murphy (Open Division) (Third Place, 3-1)
R16 | W | vs. A. Sharer (WVU), Tech Fall (2:59, 21-4)
QF | W | vs. C. Uhlenhopp (UVU), Tech Fall (1:32, 15-0)
SF | L | vs. #11 T. Wittlake (Oregon State), Dec. 2-1
3rd | W | vs. S. Perrine (Ohio), Dec. 5-1
Patrick Adams (Unattached) (Open Division) (0-2)
R16 | L | vs. M. Reiniche (Oregon State), Tech Fall (5:48, 17-1)
Con. R8 #1 | L | vs. G. Starks (Limestone), Tech Fall (4:28, 15-0)
184 Pounds
Conor Maslanek (Open Division) (1-2)
R16 | L | vs. #3 T. Munoz (Oregon State), MD 11-1
Con. R8 #1 | W | vs. #30 H. Danals (UVA), Def. (0:37, 7-0)
Con. R8 #2 | L | vs. D. Kohn (WVU), Dec. 8-1
#20 Caleb Hopkins (Open Division) (Fourth Place, 2-2)
R16 | W | vs. G. Jackson (Life), Fall (4:23, 8-0)
QF | W | vs. D. Kohn (WVU), Fall (5:00, 11-3)
SF | L | vs. #24 S. Fisher (VT), Dec. 7-3
3rd | L | vs. #26 D. Robin (WVU), MD 16-2
197 Pounds
#27 Levi Hopkins (Open Division) (Second Place, 3-1)
R16 | W | vs. I. Dolph (VMI), Fall (6:43)
QF | W | vs. T. Stewart (VT), Fall (6:05)
SF | W | vs. #28 A. Cooley (WVU), Dec. 8-1
Finals | L | vs. #15 E. Bockman (UVU), Dec. 7-2
Heavyweight
#15 Taye Ghadiali (Open Division) (First Place, 4-0)
R16 | W | vs. B. Jackson (VMI), Tech Fall 17-1 (4:04)
QF | W | vs. Z. Lanham (Life), Tech Fall 19-4 (5:16)
SF | W | vs. #21 B. McDermott (Oregon State), Fall (6:26, 4-1)
Finals | W | vs. #22 M. Wolfgram (WVU), Fall (3:13, 10-1)
QUOTABLE
Assistant Coach Chris Kober
On the performance of the big guys today:
"We just have a lot of solid wrestlers from 74, 84, 97 and to heavyweight. It's all guys who have been there, done that. And to have that experience of winning, they know what to expect and they hold each other to a standard. Anytime they go out to compete, us coaches have utter confidence in them. It's just another day in the park for them – getting the job done, sticking to the plan and wrestling."
On the growth he as seen in the guys from last year to now:
"One thing that is really sticking out for me is the confidence level throughout our whole team. From the freshman to the seniors, from the 125s to Taye and heavyweight. The team morale, the team confidence, is through the roof. They trust each other, they push each other in training, and it's showing out on the mat. Hopefully it continues and it's a snowball effect that rolls all the way through the NCAA Tournament."
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HWT Taye Ghadiali
On his performance on the day:
"I'm not really worried about their strength's or if I'm their weakness. I just worry about my wrestling. The coaches have been preaching to me all season about dominating, so I just went out and tried to dominate as much as I could and put as many points up as possible."
On how he can build off these results into further success:
"Continue to believe in myself and know that I'm on another level right now. These matches keep helping me build my confidence and continue getting better each day."
157 Chris Earnest
On the hot start to his freshman season:
"Coming in as a true freshman, you can't just say 'hey, I'm a freshman, I'm not going to win all these matches.' As a freshman, I want to be the best I can be, beat people I'm not supposed to be beating and make a name for myself."
On what he learned from his first collegiate tournament:
"For one, get on my attacks more and trying to be a little more offensive, especially in neutral. Another thing is the whole travel experience. This was our first time staying overnight in a hotel, and it's different. A lot different than high school. All those little things that people don't really think of that do make a big difference."
165 Dom Baker
On the experience of the first tournament of the season:
"It was good. I was excited, because, coming off a loss against Army, I knew I needed to do something this weekend. I focused on getting that next point, it's something that me and Wynn [Michalak] have been talking about. Instead of worrying about winning, just score that next point. I feel like I tried to do that this tournament and it helped me get through it."
On his mentality going into overtime in the final match:
"First, I was like 'If I go into overtime again, I'm winning this match, no doubt.' There was a little scramble, but I felt confident when I got into it that I was going to score. I just finished through the position and came out on top."
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