Life University Athletics

POWDER SPRINGS, Ga. --- Great performances across the board saw the No. 2 Life University men's wrestling team secure the team victory at the Wrestlers in Business Network Life U Open as eight Running Eagles earned placement, four of which earned the title in their bracket, at McEachern High School Saturday.

The team victory came from the Life U's massive 193 total points. The rest of the top three was made up of Southeastern with 168 points, and Campbell with 158.

The Running Eagles first individual title was earned by Jacob Ruiz at 133 lbs., the redshirt senior's day starting with a pair of byes to advance to the quarterfinals. A pair of decisions by scores of 6-3 and 3-1, respectively, earned Ruiz a spot in the title match where a medical forfeit saw him come out of the weekend unblemished.

The Running Eagles also took the top spot in the next bracket, Jody McAlister claiming the top spot at 141 lbs. His first two matches were bonus point wins, starting with a 18-0 tech fall before a 14-1 major decision earned him a spot in the quarterfinals. The senior earned hard fought decision victories 8-4 and 3-1 to make it to the final match where another medical forfeit saw another Life U title.

At 157 lbs., Steven Villalobos started his day with a pin of a wrestler from UNC in 2:46, continuing that momentum through the rest of his matches on his way to a title. In the quarterfinals and semifinals, Villalobos won by 8-4 and 6-1 decisions to earn a spot in the final match. In the title bought, a medical forfeit saw Life U earn their third individual title of the day.

The final individual title of the day came in the 184 lbs. bracket as Myles Starke went undefeated on the day. His first match was a dominant, 22-3 tech fall victory, followed by another bonus point victory 12-2 for a major decision. A medical forfeit in the semifinals advanced Starke to the title match where he bested the No. 19 wrestler in a 5-1 decision.

Full Results:

BRACKET	NAME	RECORD	PLACEMENT
Open 125 lbs.	Kaden Ramos	1-2	-
Open 133 lbs.	Jacob Ruiz	3-0	1st
Open 133 lbs.	Ethan Dooley	1-2	-
Open 141 lbs.	Jody McAlister	5-0	1st
Open 141 lbs.	Melvin Hernandez	1-2	-
Open 141 lbs.	Gabriel McGlamery	0-2	-
Open 141 lbs.	Bret Minor	4-2	-
Open 141 lbs.	Jordan Mitchell	2-2	-
Open 149 lbs.	Rex McDaniel	2-2	-
Open 157 lbs.	Gregory Ewert	4-1	3rd
Open 157 lbs.	Steven Villalobos	4-0	1st
Open 157 lbs.	Tyler Helfrich-Meyers	2-2	-
Open 157 lbs.	Alexander Clark	3-2	-
Open 165 lbs.	Camden Trupp	1-2	-
Open 174 lbs.	Tyler Brandt	2-2	-
Open 174 lbs.	Tre Morrisette	4-1	2nd
Open 174 lbs.	Michael Gibson	3-2	-
Open 184 lbs.	Timothy Barr	4-1	3rd
Open 184 lbs.	Myles Starke	4-0	1st
Open 197 lbs.	Daniel Miranda	3-1	2nd
Open 285 lbs.	Javiar Arango	0-2	-
Fresh/Soph 133 lbs.	John Walsh	3-2	-
Fresh/Soph 141 lbs.	Gabriel Perez	2-2	-
Fresh/Soph 149 lbs.	Cameron Crump	2-2	-
Fresh/Soph 157 lbs.	Brandon Irigoyen-Camero	2-2	-
Fresh/Soph 165 lbs.	Noah Flisser	1-2	-
Fresh/Soph 197 lbs.	Joshua Oyeneye	2-2	-
Fresh/Soph 285 lbs.	Mark Bonilla	0-2	-
Fresh/Soph 285 lbs.	Devin Dudley	0-2	-

Up next for the Running Eagles are the NAIA Challenge Duals hosted by Lindsey Wilson in Columbia, Ky. on December 11th.