Black Knights Have Solid Afternoon at Soldier Salute

Thursday, December 29

Coralville, IA

Army West Point

Soldier Salute

Black Knights Have Solid Afternoon at Soldier Salute

December 29, 2022 | Wrestling

CORALVILLE, IOWA – In the inaugural Soldier Salute Tournament, the Army West Point wresting team had 13 cadet-athletes reach the quarterfinals and six of the 13 cadets reaching the semifinals Thursday. Army's Ethan Berginc, Ryan Franco, Julian Sanchez, Nate Lukez, Dalton Harkins, and Ben Pasiuk will compete in the semifinals on December 30.

How it Happened
In the inaugural Soldier Salute tournament Army was one of 13 schools that competed. These schools included #2 Iowa, The Citadel, Virginia Military Institute, Navy, #14 Northern Iowa, #5 Iowa State, #13 Wisconsin, Columbia, Bellarmine, #20 South Dakota State, Wyoming, and #8 Minnesota. The Black Knights will have six cadet-athletes competing in the semifinals on day two of competition.

In the 125-weight class freshman #22 Ethan Berginc commanded the mat. Berginc first faced Wyoming's Garrett Ricks, defeating Ricks with a 7-4 decision. Berginc went on to compete against The Citadel's Blair Orr by a 2-0 decision. Berginc will face Drake Ayala of Iowa (unattached) in the semifinals. Army's Charles Farmer defeated Riley Caelan of The Citadel with a 5-3 decision. Farmer reached the quarterfinals, falling to Iowa's Spencer Lee (ranked #1 in the country) by a 19-1 technical fall.

In the 133-weight class Richard Treanor reached the quarterfinals where he fell to Iowa's Cullan Schriever by an 8-4 decision. Ryan Franco defeated his opponents to reach the semifinals. Franco first went up against Dylan Coy of Wisconsin besting Coy by a 14-6 major decision. Franco then faced The Citadel's George Rosas defeating him by a decision (6-2). Franco will go up against Iowa's Schriever.

Julian Sanchez defeated Indiana Tech's Kyle Kantola by a 11-3 major decision. Sanchez went on to face Drew Bennett of Iowa, besting Bennett by a 3-2 decision. Sanchez will compete against Columbia's Matt Kazimir in the semifinals. Army's Tyler Morris defeated Dillan Roman of The Citadel by a 3-2 decision. Morris reached the quarterfinals where he fell to South Dakota State's Caleb Gross by a 4-0 decision.

In the 149-weight class Matthew Williams defeated Carson DesRosier of The Citadel with a 19-4 technical fall. Williams was bested by Anthony Echmendia (Unattached) by a 17-5 major decision. Black Knights Logan Brown defeated Northern Iowa's Gable with a 6-5 decision. Brown then went on to face Caleb Rathjen, Rathjen bested Brown by a 18-5 major decision.

#30 Nate Lukez defeated his first two opponents. Lukez first went up against Indiana Tech's Nate Wheeler, defeating Wheeler with a 10-2 major decision. Lukez went on to face Northern Iowa's Evan Yant in the quarterfinals, Lukez bested Yant with a 9-5 decision. Lukez will face Wyoming's Jacob Wright in the semifinals. Army's Tanner Craig defeated Navy's Andrew Cerniglia with a fall (3:42) Craig reached the quarterfinals where he fell to RJ Weston of Northern Iowa by a 3-2 decision.

In the 165 weight-class sophomore Dalton Harkins bested his first two opponents. Harkins first went on to face Iowa's Aiden Riggins with a 6-4 sudden victory. Harkins then competed against Iowa's Carson Martinson (unattached) by a 10-1 major decision. Harkins will face Jack Thomsen (unattached) in the semifinals.

#23 Ben Pasiuk dominated in his duals. Pasiuk faced Brock Fettig of South Dakota State, Pasiuk defeated with an 18-2 technical fall. Pasiuk went on to compete against The Citadel's Benjy Haubert Pasiuk bested Haubert with a 12-4 major decision. Pasiuk will face Brennan Swafford (Iowa, unattached) in the semifinals.

In the 184 weight-class #33 Sahm Abdulrazzaq went up against Roman Rogotzke of South Dakata State. In a highly contested dual, Rogotzke and Abdulrazzaq were neck and neck with the score within two. Rogotzke came back to tie everything up forcing overtime. Ultimately Rogotzke bested Abdulrazzaq by a 9-7 sudden victory.

In the 285 weight-class Sophomore Kade Carlson defeated Jonah Schmidtke of Wisconsin with a 9-5 decision. Carlson reached the quarterfinals where Luke Rasmussen of South Dakota State bested Carlson by a 4-2 decision.

Freshman Austin Kohlhofer first faced Iowa's Gage Marty by a 2-0 decision. Kohlhofer then went up against Columbia's Dan Conley defeating him by a 3-2 decision. Reaching the quarterfinals, Kohlhofer faced Gannon Rosenfeld of Wisconsin (unattached). Scoring between Rosenfield and Kohlhofer remained even at 1-1 with Kohlhofer coming from behind in the third period earning 1 point from an escape, forcing overtime. Ultimately, Rosenfield defeated Kohlhofer in overtime with a 3-1 sudden victory.

For complete results click HERE:

Coach's Corner
"Solid first day and we put several guys in the semifinal with a chance to win the tournament so that's positive. I'm looking forward to seeing how we respond to the challenge of the second day of this tournament. We have a lot to fight for as a team and every point matters. So, I'm looking forward to some spirited performances tomorrow."— Head Coach Kevin Ward

Cadet's Corner
"I had a good guy in the quarters that I beat earlier in the year at our dual against Iowa. It is never easy wrestling the same opponent, but I knew what adjustments I needed to make to get my hand raised again. Although, it was a lower scoring match I felt I wrestled better. I was able to get a takedown in the first and rack up riding time in the second. I fired off more attacks and made the guy feel threatened. I feel good going into day two and am ready to get after it."—Julian Sanchez

"I feel good about how I wrestled, but I'm not satisfied yet. I am pumped to compete in the semis." – Ryan Franco

Up Next
The Black Knights will conclude the Soldier Salute in Coralville, Iowa on Friday, December 30, with the third session beginning at 12 p.m. CST.

For complete coverage of Army West Point Wrestling, follow the Black Knights on Twitter and Instagram at @ArmyWP_Wres and online at www.goarmywestpoint.com