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Kyle Bizjak NCAA Regionals 2026

In the AWE, Men's Wrestling Performs Well on Day 1 of NCAA Region V Championships

| By: Joe Ginley '16, SID

Seven Blue Streaks advance to the second day of the regional championships

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – As the clock ticked from 9:59 to 10:00 am on Friday morning, months of planning turned into joy in the Athletic, Wellness & Event Center.

John Carroll University's wonderful new facility has proven to be a wonderful host for the NCAA Division III Men's Wrestling Region V Championships, as the 17 teams assembled enjoyed a strong opening day. 

John Carroll Men's Wrestling enjoyed some bright spots, with seven wrestlers still alive. The Blue Streaks stand in eighth place out of 17 teams with one wrestler in a championship bracket and six wrestlers in the consolation brackets. The six grapplers in the consolation brackets simply need to win their next two matches to qualify for the National Championships, a feat easier said than done. 

Ty Daugherty enjoyed the best day for the Blue Streaks. The senior starred in the 133 pound bracket, pulling off an upset as the #6 seed to get to the semifinal round. The Avon native opened with a dominant 17-4 major decision in his opener. Daugherty fell behind with an early takedown in the quarterfinal vs. the #3 seed, UW-Whitewater's Jordan Rasof. Daugherty fought back in the second period with an escape and a takedown. A third period takedown secured the 8-3 decision and a spot in the semifinals vs. Wabash's James Day, the #2 seed, on Saturday.

Brett Stanley started the day off well at his 125 pound bracket, notching an 8-0 win. A loss via pin to the #2 seed dropped him down to the consolations, but the sophomore rebounded well. The Broadview Heights native dominated from start to finish in a 16-0 tech fall. Next up on Saturday, Stanley will face #6 seed Brady Phelps.

As the #6 seed at 141, Adom Sharpley drew a first-round match. The first year cruised easily in a 16-1 tech fall. Sharpley then snagged a takedown with 34 seconds left to win his second round match. His luck ran out in the quarterfinals against the #3 seed though, losing by pin. But the Solon native looked poised in his consolation match in a 7-1 decision. Manchester's Michael Kallimani, the #6 seed, awaits him on Saturday. 

Kyle Bizjak looked solid at 149 today. The Aurora native looked strong in a 16-1 tech fall highlighted by scoring 12 points in the third period. The #4 seed handed him an 8-4 decision, but Bizjak didn't stay down. The junior, the #5 seed, fired back with a first-period pin. Bizjak will face Mount St. Joseph's Xavier Woods next. 

In the 174 pound bracket, Aiden Ashburn began his quest to return back to the national stage. The senior started off well with an 8-1 decision. But the Westlake native ran into the #1 seed next. Ashburn, the #9 seed, battled quite well with UW-Whitewater's Jermaine Butler. But while Ashburn picked up the riding time point, Butler got the win with takedowns in the final minute of the first and second periods. Thankfully Ashburn won by pin to survive to Saturday. The veteran will face #4 seed Mitchell Betz of Manchester to begin Day 2.

Wills Bronson is hoping to return to the big dance for a second straight year. The 184-pounder marched through his first match before a gut-wrenching loss to the #4 seed in the first sudden victory period, 4-3. Bronson bounced back with a pin in just 40 seconds. The Memphis native, the #5 seed, will meet #6 seed Owen Turnbow of Albion to start Saturday. 

Thomas Lunt fired up a 7-1 win to begin his Friday at 285. The senior then stumbled in the quarterfinal, falling behind before losing via pin. But the Connecticut native outlasted an opponent from Manchester, 5-1, in one of the final bouts of the day to get to the second day. Lunt will get Case Western Reserve's Alexander Goldman on Saturday.
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