Recap courtesy of Clarion's Athletic Communications Department

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The Golden Eagles wrestling team traveled to Chattanooga for the Southern Scuffle, their first competition of the new year. At the end of day one, the only Golden Eagle yet to be eliminated is Travis Clawson.
 
Travis Clawson's day began against Colby McBride of Appalachian State. After a scoreless 1^st period, Clawson earned a quick escape to start the 2^nd period to take a 1-0 lead. The score remained 1-0 heading into the 3^rd period where Clawson nearly rode out McBride for the entire period before giving up a late escape with under 10 seconds left. However, with the riding time point secured, Clawson won a close 2-1 match. His next matchup came against Marcello Milani of Cornell. Milani earned a quick takedown in the 1^st period followed by an escape from Clawson shortly afterwards. Milani chose bottom to start the 2^nd period and earned a quick reversal to take a 5-1 lead on Clawson. Clawson earned the escape and headed into the final period down 5-2. Clawson got out quickly for the escape but failed to score in the rest of the period falling 5-3. Clawson battled back in the consolations with two straight bonus point victories. Starting off against Navy's Leo Joseph winning by a 13-0 major decision getting out to an early lead with a takedown and two near-fall points in the 1^st period and never looking back. He then defeated Little Rock's Tyson Roach by fall in the 2^nd period after Roach took down to start the period. He's matched up with 7 seeded Andrew Binni from Nacy tomorrow morning in the blood round.
 
Wesley Barnes' first matchup of the day came against Kendrick Hodge from Campbell. After a scoreless 1^st period and a 2^nd period escape from Hodge, Barnes found himself down 1-0 heading into the final period. After an immediate escape tying the match at a score of 1-1, Barnes would earn the first takedown of the match off an initial single leg shot switching to a double for the finish to take a 4-1 lead. Barnes would finish the match on top, securing a riding time point and a 5-1 victory. Barnes' next matchup was against Darius Marines of Michigan State. After a scoreless 1^st period, Marines started the 2^nd period scoring with an escape and a takedown to take a 4-0 lead. Barnes earned an escape near the end of the 2^nd period and midway through the 3^rd period after starting in the down position. Marines secured a second takedown in the 3^rd period and finished the match on top, defeating Barnes 8-2. Barnes went on to win his next two matches in closely contested decision victories. First over Pablo Macias of Campbell in a 2-1, and then over Niko Valenzuela of Presbyterian 2-0. Going for his third win in a row against Mark Takara of Utah Valley, the match headed into overtime tied 1-1. Despite a hard-match, Takara got the takedown to defeat Barnes 4-1 in a sudden victory.
 
Adrian Gacek started his Southern Scuffle with a hard-fought 10-8 decision victory over Jack Lesher of Virginia, where he scored a takedown followed by four-near fall points in the 1^st period. His second matchup saw him match up with Bryce Phillips of Morgan State. Gacek started the match out strong in the 1^st period scoring 14 points, off 3 takedowns, 4 near-fall points, and an escape. He then started the 2^nd period in the down position earning a quick reversal and 4 more near-fall points to earn the tech-fall victory over Phillips 20-3. His next matchup was against Caleb Uhlenhopp of Utah Valley, that saw a scoreless 1^st period. Uhlenhopp earned an escape midway through the 2^nd period followed by a last second takedown to close the period ahead 4-0. Gacek began the final period in the down position but was unable to score throughout the period and dropped a tough 5-0 decision. His next match came against Reed Douglass of Presbyterian and like Wesley Barnes' final match this one would be tied at the end of regulation and head to overtime. Tied at 5-5 with the seconds dwindling down in the sudden victory period, a scramble took place that saw Douglass earn the takedown against Gacek and earn him the 8-5 decision victory.
 
A few other standouts for the Golden Eagles today:

• Colton Wade earned a shutout decision victory over Davidson's Luke Passarelli 5-0, and a victory over former NCAA Champion Richie Figueroa of Oklahoma State, finishing 2-2 overall in the tournament.
• Easton Mull earned a hard-fought 1-0 decision in TB-2 over Nick Corday of Michigan State with a last second escape, and a victory over Brady Joling of Davidson, finishing 2-2 overall in the tournament.
• Gabe Lilly earned a 9-8 decision victory over Nick Hamilton of Virginia after being down 2 late in the 3^rd period, and a victory over Gunner Holland of Little Rock, finishing 2-2 overall in the tournament.