Three Wabash wrestlers advanced to Saturday's All-America round of the 2019 NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championship Tournament. Darden Schurg and Kyle Hatch moved into the championship semifinal round of their respective brackets, while freshman Carlos Champagne picked up two wins in the consolation bracket to remain alive in the 125-pound weight class.
 
Schurg, a fourth-place finisher at 174 pounds in 2018, entered Friday's tournament as the number-one seed in that weight class. He opened competition with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Jordan Juliano from Centenary College. Schurg celebrated his birthday with a quarterfinal win over Jake Voss from Coe College by a 9-3 score to move into Saturday's 174-pound championship semifinal bout against fourth-seeded Daniel Kilroy from The College of New Jersey.
 
Hatch earned All-America honors last year with an eighth-place finish at 157 pounds. He entered this year's tournament as the fourth seed in the 165-pound weight class. Hatch drew an extra bout with a pigtail bout to open the da, defeating Adrian Gonzalez from Johnson and Wales 5-0. Hatch followed with a pair of wins in the championship rounds, starting with a 6-2 win against Michael Suarez from Luther. Hatch scored a 3-2 win over Eddie Smith from Loras in the quarterfinals to move into Saturday's championship semifinal round versus top-seeded Lucas Jeske from Augsburg.
 
Champagne faced the number-one seeded wrestler at 125 pounds, Jay Albis from Johnson and Wales, in his opening bout Friday morning. Albis knocked Champagne into the consolation round with a 9-1 major decision over the Wabash freshman. Champagne rallied for consecutive wins starting with a pin of Josiah Gehr from Messiah. Champagne earned a spot in Saturday's next round of competition with an 8-0 major decision versus Zack Murillo from Wesleyan in the final session on Friday. Champagne will wrestle sixth-seeded Peter Del Gallo from Southern Maine in the consolation quarterfinals.
 
Wabash sent a total of six wrestlers to the 2019 tournament. Jared Timberman, Owen Doster, and Wade Ripple were eliminated from competition on Friday. Timberman suffered an injury in his opening bout at 157 pounds against Brandon Murray from Loras and was forced to withdraw from the tournament. Doster, competing for third consecutive year at the championship tournament lost a preliminary round bout in a 6-5 decision to Bobby Jordan from Johnson and Wales before rallying for a pin against Russell Benson from Delaware Valley in the first round of the consolation side of the 133-pound bracket. Doster advanced to Friday's final round with a 4-0 win against Chase Petty from Central before losing 7-5 to Jake Giordano Friday evening.
 
Ripple was competing in the national tournament for the first time in his career. The sophomore pinned his first opponent Friday morning, scoring a pin at the 6:17 mark of his 285-pound bout against Patrick Irwin from the Coast Guard Academy. Ripple lost his next two bouts to end his tournament effort with pins against Bowen Wileman from Wartburg (2:16) and Jerhett Lee from the College of the Ozarks (4:20).
 
Wabash scored a total of 30 points in the first day of the tournament to move into eighth place in the team scoring. Augsburg tops the list of the 74 teams competing at the DIII championship tournament with a total of 71.5 points.
 
Saturday's All-America rounds begin at 10 a.m. at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, Virginia.

2019 NCAA Division III Championships Results for Wabash
 
125 pounds
 
Carlos Champagne (11-4) scored 7.0 team points.
 
    Champ. Round 1 - Jay Albis (JWU (Providence)) 37-4 won by major decision over Carlos Champagne (Wabash) 11-4 (MD 9-1)
    Cons. Round 1 - Carlos Champagne (Wabash) 11-4 won by fall over Josiah Gehr (Messiah) 36-7 (Fall 3:33)
    Cons. Round 2 - Carlos Champagne (Wabash) 11-4 won by major decision over Zack Murillo (Wesleyan (CT)) 28-10 (MD 8-0)
 
133 pounds
 
Owen Doster (20-11) scored 3.0 team points.
 
    Prelim - Bobby Jordan (JWU (Providence)) 19-7 won by decision over Owen Doster (Wabash) 20-11 (Dec 6-5)
    Prelim - Owen Doster (Wabash) 20-11 won by fall over Russell Benson (Delaware Valley) 20-11 (Fall 3:28)
    Cons. Round 1 - Owen Doster (Wabash) 20-11 won by decision over Chase Petty (Central (IA)) 18-10 (Dec 4-0)
    Cons. Round 2 - Jake Giordano (TCNJ) 27-4 won by decision over Owen Doster (Wabash) 20-11 (Dec 7-5)
 
157 pounds
 
Jared Timberman (34-8) scored 0.0 team points.
 
    Champ. Round 1 - Brandon Murray (Loras) 24-5 won by injury default over Jared Timberman (Wabash) 34-8 (Inj. 1:37)
    Cons. Round 1 - Christopher Muce (Centenary (NJ)) 24-6 won by medical forfeit over Jared Timberman (Wabash) 34-8 (M. For.)
 
165 pounds
 
Kyle Hatch (32-3) scored 9.0 team points.
 
    Prelim - Kyle Hatch (Wabash) 32-3 won by decision over Adrian Gonzalez (JWU (Providence)) 26-12 (Dec 5-0)
    Champ. Round 1 - Kyle Hatch (Wabash) 32-3 won by decision over Michael Suarez (Luther) 17-15 (Dec 6-2)
    Quarterfinal - Kyle Hatch (Wabash) 32-3 won by decision over Eddie Smith (Loras) 28-5 (Dec 3-2)
 
174 pounds
 
Darden Schurg (24-2) scored 8.0 team points.
 
    Champ. Round 1 - Darden Schurg (Wabash) 24-2 won by decision over Jordan Juliano (Centenary (NJ)) 24-10 (Dec 3-2)
    Quarterfinal - Darden Schurg (Wabash) 24-2 won by decision over Jake Voss (Coe) 20-8 (Dec 9-3)
 
285 pounds
 
Wade Ripple (32-10) scored 3.0 team points.
 
    Prelim - Wade Ripple (Wabash) 32-10 won by fall over Patrick Irwin (Coast Guard) 20-8 (Fall 6:17)
    Champ. Round 1 - Bowen Wileman (Wartburg) 25-7 won by fall over Wade Ripple (Wabash) 32-10 (Fall 2:16)
    Cons. Round 1 - Jerhett Lee (Ozarks (AR)) 35-6 won by fall over Wade Ripple (Wabash) 32-10 (Fall 4:20)