Tanner Smith Claims Title at Cleveland State Open

FULL RESULTS

CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University freshman wrestler Tanner Smith (New Carlisle, Ohio-Mechanicsburg) won the 149 lbs. title wrestling unattached at the Cleveland State Open, Saturday, Dec. 16. In his redshirt season, Smith has now won all three open tournaments he has wrestled in, and is 13-0 on the year.

In the CSU Open, Smith faced his toughest competition yet, wrestling five times all against Division I opponents, including a nationally ranked grappler and returning national qualifier. The rookie was unfazed, winning two matches by decision, one by major decision, one by fall, and one via medical forfeit.

Smith began his day with a pin of Ryan Ford of Cleveland State, and followed that with a 6-4 decision over Jake Keating of Virginia. In the quarterfinals, Smith faced No. 17 nationally ranked Matt Zovistoski of Appalachian State, who won a pair of matches in the NCAA Championships last season. Smith was up to the task, as he notched a 13-4 major decision to get to the semis.

In the semis, Smith was able to advance to the championship bout with a medical forfeit. In the finals, he squared up with Tyler Meisinger of Michigan, and eked out a 5-2 decision to win the crown. Smith has now claimed titles at the Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, and Cleveland State Opens this season.

Elsewhere on the day, three other unattached freshmen competed for EMU, including Mason Kauffman (Stratford, Wis.-Stratford), at 157 lbs., Kolin Leyrer (Holt, Mich.-Holt) at 165 lbs., and Brandon Moen (Owatonna, Minn.-Owatonna) at 184 lbs. Kauffman and Leyrer each claimed two decision wins, while Moen had one technical fall victory.

Eastern's final event of the 2017 calender year comes next week, Dec. 29-30, at The Midlands Championships. The two-day event will be held at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates Ill.

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Players Mentioned

Mason Kauffman

Kolin Leyrer

Brandon Moen

Tanner Smith

Eastern Michigan Athletics