Chance Marsteller and Jeric Kasunic Win University Nationals

AKRON – A year ago Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale) gave 2-time NCAA Champion Isaiah Martinez all he could handle in the best-of-three finals of the 2016 University Nationals but ultimately fell short in two straight bouts. Fast forward twelve months and Chance is a much different person off the mat, which has transformed his performance on the mat.

After transferring to Lock Haven from Oklahoma State the former 4-time undefeated PIAA State Champion would never get the chance to wear a Bald Eagle singlet after his arrest stemming from a drug and alcohol induced incident off campus that included multiple charges of aggravated assault. After being removed from both the wrestling team and institution Marsteller needed to pick-up the pieces of his life and put them back together.

Part of that process includes staying on the right path, avoiding drugs or alcohol, and having a strict schedule. Chance showed in Akron that he is still capable of being a force to reckon with in the NCAA’s. Re-enrolled in Lock Haven it has yet to be seen if Marsteller will make a return to the Bald Eagle’s line-up for his remaining two years of NCAA eligibility.

Competing at 74 kg Marsteller earned the top seed, and proved why, as he tore through the bracket in six straight bouts. Chance outscored his opponents by a (45-4) margin while only going into the second period once in six bouts. The much anticipated meeting between Marsteller and 2017 NCAA National runner-up Joey Lavelle (Missouri) never happened as the #2 seed was upset by his Mizzou teammate Connor Flynn in the quarterfinals (5-4). Flynn advanced into the finals where Marsteller scored ten unanswered points to win by technical superiority. 

American junior Jeric Kasunic (Benton Area) joined Marsteller as the second Pennsylvania native to win the University Freestyle Nationals. Kasunic, a 2017 NCAA National Qualifier, competed at 97 kg where he was the fourth seed winning six straight matches to claim the Championship. In the finals the former Benton Tiger scored a late takedown in the final period against fellow 2017 NCAA Qualifier Danny Chaid (North Carolina) to win the Championship (8-7). 

At 57 kg NCAA Runner-up Ethan Lizak (Parkland/Minnesota) finished in fifth while former PIAA State Runner-up Austin Miller (Hempfield/Oklahoma State) placed seventh. PIAA State Champion and 2-time NCAA Qualifier Brock Zacherl (Brookville/Clarion) placed third at 65 kg while former PIAA State Runner-up Nick Zanetta (Keystone Oaks/Pittsburgh) was sixth.

In addition to Marsteller, three additional Keystone State wrestlers placed at 74 kg with former PIAA State Champions Ian Brown (Hanover/Lehigh) placing fourth, Josh Shields (Franklin Regional/Arizona State) taking fifth, and Cole Walter (Mifflinburg/Lehigh) ending in sixth. 2016 PIAA State Champion and Iowa Hawkeye Kaleb Young (Punxsutawney) competed at 80 kg where he placed eighth after forfeiting his final two bouts.

At 86 kg two NCAA studs clashed in the finals with Pete Renda (Brandywine Heights/N.C. State) meeting 2016 NCAA National Champion Myles Martin (Ohio State). Renda, who was third at the NCAA Tournament in 2016, is coming off a redshirt season at N.C. State. Martin was able to hang on against Renda winning (4-2). Three additional Pennslyvania wrestlers placed at 86 kg with 2017 NCAA National Qualifier Ryan Preisch (Milton/Lehigh) taking third, PIAA State Champion and NCAA National Qualifier Dakota Geer (Franklin/Edinboro) finishing in sixth, while Alex Decciantis (North Allegheny/Drexel) took seventh.

Joining Kusunic at 97 kg was NCAA National Qualifier Tom Sleigh (DuBois/Bucknell) who took seventh. At 125 kg PIAA State Champions Mike Boykin (Coatesville/N.C. State) finished in sixth while Andrew Dunn (Bethlehem Catholic/Virginia Tech) took eighth.

Full results can be found on the FloArena while placers below!

 

57 KG/125 lbs.

1st Luke Welch West Lafayette, IN (Boilermaker RTC) PP David Terao (DCAC), 8-4
3rd Gary Harding Stillwater, OK (Cowboy Wrestling Club) SP Sean Russell Edinboro, PA (Edinboro RTC), 15-5 4:23
5th Ethan Lizak Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Storm) VB Skyler Petry Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Storm)
7th Austin Miller Lock Haven, PA (Mat Town USA) PP Kyle Norstrem Blacksburg, VA (SERTC-VT), 12-8

 

61 KG/134 lbs.

1st William Erneste Columbia, MO (Missouri Wrestling) PP Taylor Lamont Scottsdale, AZ (Sunkist Kids WC), 2-1
3rd Markus Simmons Ames, IA (C-RTC) PP Jake Rubio Norman, OK (Sooner Wrestling Club), 5-5
5th Ian Parker Ames, IA (C-RTC) FOR Johnni Dijulius (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club)
7th Nathan Boston Buies Creek, NC (Campbell) VF Daniel Deshazer Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Storm)

 

65 KG/143 lbs.

1st Robbie Mathers Scottsdale, AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling) PP Thomas Thorn Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Storm), 13-4
3rd Brock Zacherl Mayport, PA (Clarion RTC) ST Earl Hall Ames, IA (C-RTC), 10-0 1:49
5th Collin Purinton Lincoln, NE (Nebraska Wrestling RTC) SP Nicholas Zanetta (Pittsburgh WC), 14-4 4:19
7th Matt Findlay Orem, UT (Wolverine Wrestling Club) SP Chad Red Lincoln, NE (Nebraska Wrestling RTC), 12-1 1:42

 

70 KG/154 lbs.

1st Brandon Sorensen Iowa City, IA (University of Iowa) PO Grant Lamont Mapleton, UT (Wolverine Wrestling), 4-0
3rd Mitch Finesilver Englewood, CO (Blue Blood Wrestling) PP Troy Heilmann Chapel Hill, NC (Tar Heel Wrestling), 8-5
5th Max Thomsen Cedar Falls, IA (Panther Wrestling Club RTC) ST Cole Erickson (Coe College), 10-0 2:01
7th Paul Fox Stanford, CA (Stanford – California RTC) PP Jason Tsirtsis Tempe, AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 10-1

 

74 KG/163 lbs.

1st Chance Marsteller New Park, PA (Mat Town USA) ST Connor Flynn Columbia, MO (Missouri Wrestling), 10-0 1:18
3rd Joseph Lavallee Columbia, MO (Missouri Wrestling) PP Ian Brown (Lehigh Valley WC), 12-5
5th Josh Shields Tempe, AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling) FOR Cole Walter (Lehigh Valley WC)
7th Markus Scheidel (NYC RTC) VB Jacen Petersen Tempe, AZ (ASU Wrestling), 0-0 0:00

 

80 KG/176 lbs.

1st Jordan Kutler (Lehigh Valley WC) PP Jacob Smith (CWC/TMWC), 10-5
3rd Daniel Lewis Columbia, MO (Missouri Wrestling) SP Devin Skatzka Bloomington, IN (Hoosier Wrestling), 13-2 0:50
5th Kimball Bastian Orem, UT (Wolverine Wrestling) NC Nick Becker (Grizzly WC)
7th Chad Walsh (Broncs Wrestling) VB Kaleb Young Iowa City, IA (University of Iowa)

 

86 KG/189 lbs.

1st Myles Martin Columbus, OH (TMWC) PP Peter Renda Raleigh, NC (Wolfpack Wrestling), 4-2
3rd Ryan Preisch (Lehigh Valley WC) SP Keegan Moore (CWC/TMWC), 16-6 4:15
5th Ricky Robertson Madison, WI (University of Wisconsin) ST Dakota Geer Edinboro, PA (Edinboro RTC), 10-0 0:45
7th Alexander Deciantis Mars, PA (Drexel) PP Jacob Holschlag Cedar Falls, IA (Panther Wrestling Club RTC), 10-2

 

97 KG/213 lbs.

1st Jeric Kasunic Washington, DC (DCAC) PP Danny Chaid Chapel Hill, NC (Tar Heel WC), 8-7
3rd Benjamin Darmstadt Ithaca, NY (New York RTC) VT Morgan Smith Lynnwood, WA (Pin City), 4-2 1:23
5th Bobby Steveson Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Storm) PP Anthony McLaughlin (USAF Academy), 2-1
7th Tom Sleigh DuBois, PA (Buffalo Valley RTC) PP Jonathan Aiello (UVA), 6-4

 

125 KG/275 lbs.

1st Garrett Ryan New York, NY (New York RTC) SP Michael Hughes Long Beach, NY (Blue and Gold RTC), 14-4 1:47
3rd Tanner Hall Tempe, AZ (Sunkist Kids WC) PP Cory Daniels Chapel Hill, NC (Tar Heel WC), 10-2
5th Malik Mcdonald Raleigh, NC (Wolfpack WC) VT Michael Boykin Raleigh, NC (Wolfpack WC), 3-0 2:06
7th Rylee Streifel Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Storm) ST Andrew Dunn Blacksburg, VA (SERTC-VT), 10-0 1:03