Glenville, W. Va. - The No. 10 UIndy wrestling team finished with two champions and four additional podium finishes at the Pioneer Open. Christian Chavez won the 184 weight class with Michael Ortega taking home the 165 weight class.

Toby Billerman (141), Phineas Merrill (149), Levi Abbott (174) and Armen Koltookian (197) claimed top-3 finishes in their respective weight classes.

"This was a decent start to the season," head coach Jason Warthan said. "We had a slow start to the day, but bounced back and got some quality wins later in the day."

HOW IT HAPPENED

Christian Chavez dominated from the jump, averaging 13 points per match from the opening championship round through the quarter final. He then won the Semifinal 11-4 before grinding out the first place match against the No. 10 ranked Fletcher Rose with a 4-2 decision.

The other weight class champion, Michael Ortega saw similar dominance early as he won 39 more points than his opponents through the first three matches before he too was tested. In the semifinal Ortega won 7-5 before finding a 4-2 decision victory over No. 10 Carson Freeman. 

With the win Ortega took the 165 weight class crown for the second consecutive year at the Pioneer Open after being named co-champion with Logan Farnell last season.

Both champions had a perfect 5-0 record on the day.

"It was an impressive start for Christian and Ortega, they both had ranked opponents in the finals." Warthan said, "Both also scored takedowns with about 30 seconds in the third period to get the win."

Merrill found the next highest finish as he came in second in the 149 weight class bracket. Merrill was tested once he hit the quarterfinal round winning the round with a 11-9 decision before punching his ticket to the final with a 6-5 decision in the semifinal. Merrill then fell to Moses Eads of Fairmont State in the final 9-2 by decision.

Warthan said, "Merrill showed had some gritty wins to reach the final today."

Toby Billerman was one of a trio of Greyhounds to finish third in their weight class. Billerman won by fall in the first round in a minute and 21 seconds and followed it up by doing so in a minute and 16 seconds in the quarterfinal. He then suffered the same fate, losing by fall in the semifinal.

Levi Abbott opened his weight class with a bye before winning in round by major decision. In both round three and the quarterfinal he won by a 4-1 decision in each before falling in the semifinal. Abbott then rallied in the consolation semifinal, winning by fall before doing so again in the third place match against his teammate Logan Farnell.

Armen Koltookian then rounded out the top-3 finishes. The senior opened with a bye before picking up a win in round two by a 9-3 decision and a 3-1 decision in tiebreaker one. Koltookian then struggled in the semifinal and was forced to battle in the consolation semifinal, winning 11-2 by major decision and eventually in the third place match due to a medical forfeit.

Logan Farnell placed fourth in the 174 weight class and Hartley Hoover placed fifth in the 285 weight class in the Pioneer Open as well.

UP NEXT

The Greyhounds return to the mat Saturday, November 7th for the Ohio Showcase in Athens, OH for a dual against No. 12 Ashland.