McGraw and Ashburn Bow Out of NCAA Championships after Day 1

3/15/2024 10:28:00 PM | By: Joe Ginley '16, SID

Patrick McGraw and Aiden Ashburn both finished 2-2 on Friday.

LA CROSSE, Wisc. – The 2023-24 season heartbreakingly came to a close on Friday evening for John Carroll Wrestling.

Patrick McGraw (157) and Aiden Ashburn (174) each finished with 2-2 records on the first day of the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Wrestling Championships, not enough to move on to the second day at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

And so, the campaign comes to a close, with McGraw and Ashburn missing on a chance to become All-Americans.

The result is particularly heart-wrenching for McGraw, as the fifth-year Streak hoped to add an All-American honor to a great career resume. The Saint Ignatius grad possesses the career wins record, ending with 138 wins. That mark will be difficult to top for future JCU grapplers.

Meanwhile, Ashburn broke onto the scene with a late-season surge. The Westlake native will hope to return to the national stage again next year.

McGraw faced Jake Hoffman of Johns Hopkins in the preliminary round to start. McGraw allowed an early takedown to Hoffman, who was making his first Nationals appearance. Nevertheless, McGraw soon settled in, roaring for 11 unanswered points the rest of the first period, in full control. A pair of near falls down the stretch were key in establishing the tone. After choosing neutral, McGraw nabbed another takedown and stacked up riding time. He added another nearfall late in the third period and finished with 4:07 in riding time. It all added up to a dominant 17-3 conquest.

Nathan Callaway of Millikin was the next foe on the docket. Callaway got out to a fast start early, leading 3-1 after the first and then 7-1 after two periods, defending well against McGraw's moves. In the third, McGraw tried a comeback, with an escape and then a key takedown with 46 seconds left to narrow the deficit to 7-5 in short order. But Callaway held off McGraw in the later stages, sending McGraw to the consolations with a 9-6 defeat.

McGraw left no doubt in his first consolation bout vs. Jaryn Hartranft (Wilkes). The veteran was the aggressor throughout, especially in a huge second period as he outscored his opponent, 7-0. McGraw allowed a few late points but clearly won the battle, 19-8.

The consolation second round is where things ended for McGraw on Friday evening. Ryan Smith (Stevens) controlled the tempo, keeping the senior Blue Streak off the board through the first four minutes. McGraw trailed after two, 7-1, and tallied a couple late points, but his time ended with a 9-3 loss.

Ashburn confronted Joe Chapman of the Coast Guard in his preliminary matchup. Ashburn showed no first-time jitters, tallying a takedown about a minute into the match. After allowing an escape, the Westlake native scored a late takedown to take a 6-1 lead into the second. Following a quiet second, Ashburn held a 6-2 advantage. A quick escape and a following takedown cemented his advantage. Despite allowing a late reversal, Ashburn walked away with a 10-4 conquest.

A firm test awaited Ashburn in the championship first round. Seth Goetzinger of Augsburg, a two-time All-American from the defending national champs, welcomed Ashburn to the ring. Ashburn accepted a defeat, with a second-period pin.

Spurred on, Ashburn returned to the mat with a vengeance in the first round of consolations. Against Carter Lloyd of Baldwin Wallace, the sophomore Streak prevailed. After constructing a 7-0 first-period lead, Ashburn kept his opponent at bay in a 9-2 victory.

But the journey ended in the second round of consolations at the hands of Stefan Major of Stevens. Ashburn dug an 8-2 early, but did fight back to within 8-6 entering the final two minutes. But Ashburn couldn't rev up the offense from there, and so Major moved on with a 14-7 decision.

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