Three Jackets place at Battle in the Bluegrass
December 19, 2025

Three Jackets place at Battle in the Bluegrass

Results

CORBIN, Ky. - Three Defiance College men's wrestlers placed at Friday's Battle in the Bluegrass hosted by the University of the Cumberlands at The Corbin Arena.

Finishing 12th as a team among the field of 16, DC freshmen Kale Waxler, Evan Smigelski and Graiden Troth all placed in their weight classes in the open format competition. Waxler posted a 4th-place finish wrestling at 184 after starting the day 3-0 before losses in the semifinals and consolation match. Smigelski was the heavyweight 5th-place finisher, rallying back from an opening match loss by pin with two straight victories to reach the consolation semifinals. Troth finished 8th place at 165 after starting the day with a win over Simpson's William Schwertscharf, who was ranked 14th in the nation in the weight class. Troth went on to lose by fall next and recovered with a win to set up a rematch with Schwertscharf, who defeated Troth 2-0 in a gritty match-up.

Matthew Wheeler, Drew Matthews and Samuel Moore all earned one victory each in the meet. Wheeler and Moore each had wins by pin in less than 2 minutes while Matthews opened the day with a victory by decision.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

  • 133 - Matthew Wheeler (1-2): W Fall (1:52) vs. Bryce Looney (Pikeville), L Fall 0:44 vs. Tyler Clark (St. Ambrose), L 10-9 vs. Lucas Hall (Midway)
  • 149 - Drew Matthews (1-2): W 7-2 vs. Dominic Ruiz (Life), L 9-4 vs. Marlin Williams (Marian), L 8-1 vs. Boedl Kirkland (Montreat)
  • 149 - Caden Moore (0-2): L 12-3 vs. Arthur Reed (Brewton-Parker), L Fall (2:40) vs. Blake Walker (Brewton-Parker)
  • 157 - Peyton Brown (0-2): L 19-12 vs. Jack Gruno (Cleary), L 8-3 vs. Georgino Morago (St. Ambrose)
  • 165 - Graiden Troth (2-2): W 14-1 vs. William Schwertscarf (Simpson), L Fall (1:00) vs. Michael Colligan (Midway), W 4-1 vs. David Washington (Brewton-Parker), L 2-0 vs. William Schwertscarf (Simpson), L (medical forfeit) vs. Logan Sell (Friends)
  • 174 - Daniel Thatcher (0-2): L 16-0 vs. Weston Melvin (Cumberlands), L Fall (2:58) vs. Anthony Rinehart (Marian)
  • 184 - Kale Waxler (3-2): W Fall (2:00) vs. Caleb Cohee (Siena Heights), W 3-0 OT vs. Grant Richardson (Siena Heights), W 6-2 vs. Sebastian Hutchinson (Midway), L 11-3 vs. Lane Kiser (Cumberlands), L 11-3 vs. Noah Hollendonner (Marian)
  • 184 - Samuel Moore (1-2): W Fall (1:11) vs. Javier Franco (Siena Heights), L 8-2 vs. Jason Bowers (Friends), L 12-9 OT vs. Nicolas Makwala (St. Ambrose)
  • 285 - Evan Smigelski (3-2): L Fall (1:22) vs. Bruce Wagers (Rio Grande), W Fall (6:43) vs. Camron Kirtz (Lourdes), W 6-1 vs. Grayson Burleson (Montreat), L Fall (2:54) vs. Michael Yerlan (Marian), W (medical forfeit) vs. Trey White (Cumberlands)

UP NEXT
The DC wrestlers return to the mats in January for a home dual meet against Muskingum beginning at 5 p.m. in the Karl H. Weaner Center.

-JACKETS-