Harris leads Rio wrestlers at Blue Raider Open

Rio Grande Sports Information
     COLUMBIA, Ky. - Amir Harris posted a fourth-place finish to lead the University of Rio Grande wrestling team's efforts at Saturday's Blue Raider Open hosted by Lindsey Wilson College at the Holloway Center.
     Harris, a sophomore from Trotwood, Ohio, posted a 3-2 record in the 141-pound division. He was pinned by Lindsey Wilson's Marckis Branford at 0:32 in his opening match before posting a pair of wins by decision and another by majority decision to reach the third-place match.
     Harris suffered a 17-2 technical fall loss to Life University's Jordan Mitchell to close out the day.
     Two other RedStorm grapplers - freshmen Mackandle Freeman (Point Pleasant, WV) and Braeden Denlinger (Kettering, OH) - notched two wins each in their respective weight classes.
     Freeman was actually off to a 2-0 start in the 149-pound bracket after pinning Life's Tyrell Simmons at 6:28 and posting a 10-8 decision over an unattached foe, Julian Cruz, but dropped each of his next two scheduled matches - against Life's Brevin Balmeceda and Campbellsville's Lody Cheatham - as a result of medical forfeits.
     Denlinger also won both of his first two contests - both by sudden victory - defeating Austin Silva, who was competing unattached, 10-8, and Life's Mark Bonilla, 3-1.
     Denlinger fell in each of his following two matches, though, dropping a 9-0 majority decision to Life's Spencer Dacus and an 8-2 decision in a rematch with Silva in an elimination match.
     Rio also had a pair of participants post one win each before being ousted from the double-elimination event.
     Freshman Aiden Greene (Bidwell, OH) pinned Montreat's Tyler McDonald at 4:32 of their 184-pound consolation bracket match, before dropping a tough 8-7 decision to David Gilbert of Thomas More.
     Also at 184 pounds, fellow frosh Ashton Simison (Enon, OH) earned a 21-7 majority decision over Samuel Hatcher of Campbellsville in the consolation bracket, but was then pinned at 4:46 by Cumberland University's JT Oldknow.
     Four others representing Rio went 0-2 in the event - junior Lucas Chess (Urbana, OH) at 133 pounds; sophomore Ethan Pannell (Boise, ID) at 157 pounds; sophomore Kaylin Foust (Charlotte, NC) at 165 pounds; and sophomore Michael Peneski (Port Washington, NY) in the 285-pound division.
     Rio Grande is slated to return to the mat next Saturday as part of the Cumberland Open in Lebanon, Tenn.