New London, Conn. – Ugi Khishignyam, Matt Frisch, Aaron Walker and Turtogtokh Luvsandorj were crowned as champions while five others placed in the top four on Saturday at the 20th-annual All-Academy Championships hosted by the Coast Guard Academy.
Eighteenth-ranked Khishignyam plowed through his competition by way of medical forfeit, fall at 44 seconds and 7-4 decision to earn the 141-pound title. Following Khishignyam was three more first-place finishes by Matt Frisch, Aaron Walker and No. 8 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj to help lead the Bulldogs to a second place finish with 92 points.
Frisch earned a major decision, decision and injury default win to take the 149-pound title while Walker carried his winning streak to 10 with his 157-pound championship. Walker was also named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler.
Luvsandorj cruised to his second 165-pound All-Academy title with two major decision wins in the opening and second rounds before earning a 4-2 decision over 17th-ranked Peyton Walsh of Navy to capture the title.
True freshman Joe Bexley narrowly missed out on a first place finish at heavyweight with a TB-2 loss in the championship round against Marcus Malecek of Air Force. Bexley finished in second place after collecting two decision victories.
Joaquin Marquez and Aaron Hansen earned third place finishes at 125 and 133, respectively, while Kenneth Radford (184) and Marshall Haas (197) earned fourth place finishes.
The Citadel wrestling team travels to Gardner-Webb for a Southern Conference match on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m., before returning home to take on military rival VMI on Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. in McAlister Field House.
125: Joaquin Marquez – (2-1) – THIRD PLACE
First Round: BYE
Semifinals: lost to Brendan Campbell (Navy) by decision, 10-7
Consolations: def. Nathan Santhanam (Army) by fall at 6:23
Third Place: def. Michael Mui (Merchant Marines) by major decision, 10-1
133: Aaron Hansen – (2-1) – THIRD PLACE
First Round: BYE
Semifinals: lost to Gregory Rinker (Air Force) by decision, 7-0
Consolations: def. Isaac Hammonds (Merchant Marines) by major decision, 10-2
Third Place: def. Alex Stewart (Norwich) by major decision, 17-4
141: #18 Ugi Khishignyam – (3-0) – FIRST PLACE
First Round: def. Robby Zyko (Norwich) by medical forfeit
Semifinals: def. Emmitt Kelly (VMI) by fall at 0:44
Finals: def. Joe Locksmith (Navy) by decision, 7-4
149: Matt Frisch – (3-0) – FIRST PLACE
First Round: def. Ben Swanson (Norwich) by major decision, 13-5
Semifinals: def. Natrelle Demison (Air Force) by decision, 10-4
Finals: def. Ray Borja (Navy) by injury default at 6:08
157: Aaron Walker – (3-0) – FIRST PLACE
First Round: def. Michael Palomba (Coast Guard) by fall at 4:36
Semifinals: def. Joshua Kreimier (Air Force) by decision, 11-5
Finals: def. Bobby Burg (Navy) by decision, 2-1
165: #18 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj – (3-0) – FIRST PLACE
First Round: def. Thomas Walker (Merchant Marines) by major decision, 11-3
Semifinals: def. Mark Darr (VMI) by major decision, 16-4
Finals: def. #17 Peyton Walsh (Navy) by decision, 4-2
174: Terrell Forbes – (0-2)
First Round: lost to #16 Matt Miller (Navy) by fall at 1:31
Consolations: lost to Konner Witt (Air Force) by decision, 5-0
184: Kenneth Radford – (2-2) – FOURTH PLACE
First Round: def. Hardy Hendren (VMI) by major decision, 14-5
Semifinals: lost to Devin Hightowe (Air Force) by decision, 3-2 (TB-1)
Consolations: def. Marc Wagner (Coast Guard) by decision, 9-3
Third Place: lost to James Mannier (Navy) by decision, 8-4
197: Marshall Haas – (2-2) – FOURTH PLACE
First Round: def. Jacob Towse (Norwich) by major decision, 14-3
Semifinals: lost to Bryce Barnes (Army) by decision, 6-3
Consolations: def. Phillip Azzari (Coast Guard) by major decision, 12-2
Third Place: lost to Robert Isley (Air Force) by decision, 6-3
285: Joe Bexley – (2-1 ) – SECOND PLACE
First Round: def. Colynn Cook (Navy) by decision, 6-4
Semifinals: def. Trevor Smith (Army) by decision, 4-2
Finals: lost to Marcus Malecek (Air Force) by decision, 3-2 (TB-2)
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Navy – 108.5
2. The Citadel - 92.0
3. Air Force – 83.0
4. Army – 71
5. VMI – 17
6. Merchant Marine – 16.5
7. Norwich – 6.5
8. Coast Guard – 2.0
