Schulze Highlights Wrestling's Day at ESU Open

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The American International College wrestling team competed at the 49th Annual East Stroudsburg University Open Tournament Sunday.

For the second consecutive weekend, the Yellow Jackets were led by senior Michael Schulze (Ehningen, Germany) as the team competed in its third match against primarily Division I opponents. It took Schulze just 2:20 of the first period to dispatch his opponent by way of fall. In the championship second round against an opponent from Army, Schulze nearly pulled off a six-point move, but was deemed out-of-bounds by the official. Due to an injury later in the match, he was forced to default.

AIC senior Sheldon Rhoden (Hartford, Conn.), a 197-pounder, wrestled up in the heavyweight class. The weight disparity was noticeable when Rhoden took a commanding 10-2 lead, but fell by way of pin.

Jacket junior Josef Smith also wrestled up at the 133-pound level and got out to an early lead and carried it into the third period before his combatant from Limestone took control for the victory.

American International freshman Brian LaValley (Springfield, Mass.) fell in his first bout, but refocused midway through for a late surge. LaValley returned in an exciting match against Army, stringing together a six-point scoring sequence late in the third and falling just short of coming away with a decision on the score card.

Classmate Caleb Thompson (Springfield, Mass.) also dropped a close decision, while redshirt freshman Nick Kushner (Springfield, Mass.) and sophomore Chris Hunter (North Attleboro, Mass.) gained vital experience over the course of the tournament.

Complete Results:
http://www.esuwarriors.com/news/2015/10/26/WREST_102615.aspx?path=wrestling 

AIC is back in action Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Doug Parker Invitational hosted by Springfield College