Ashland's Depth Clinches Third-Straight G-MAC Wrestling Championship

1.31.26

OWENSBORO, Ky. – Ashland University showcased its dominance on Saturday, capturing the 2026 Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Wrestling Championship at the Moore Center. With three individual champions and podium finishes across the entire lineup, the Eagles secured the team title with 161 points, outdistancing Tiffin University (149) and the University of Findlay (140). The win marks Ashland's third tournament title in as many years.

The Eagles crowned three individual G-MAC champions on the night:

  • 149 lbs: Hayden Kuhn 

  • 197 lbs: Peyton Lemon 

  • 285 lbs: Wyatt Bailey 

Weight Class Recaps

  • 125 lbs: Tiffin’s Anthony Aniciete took the title. Ashland’s Luke Acuna provided a critical boost to the team score, battling back to secure a 3rd place finish.

  • 133 lbs: Findlay’s Nate Knowlton claimed the championship. Ashland’s Donovan Paes fought through the bracket to finish 4th.

  • 141 lbs: Ashton Anderson (Findlay) won the weight class. Ashland’s Rylen Campbell added to the team tally with a 5th place finish.

  • 149 lbs: Hayden Kuhn (Ashland) emerged as the champion, with Findlay’s Micah Cotrell taking runner-up honors.

  • 157 lbs: Casey Barnett (Tiffin) took the top spot. Ashland’s Fernando Lopez secured a solid 4th place finish.

  • 165 lbs: Nolan Gessler (Tiffin) won the title. Ashland’s Nate Barrett reached the finals, finishing as the runner-up (2nd), while teammate Gavin Nelson placed 5th.

  • 174 lbs: Emilio Arellano (Tiffin) claimed the championship. Ashland’s Sevriano Garza earned valuable team points with a 2nd place finish.

  • 184 lbs: David Davis (Tiffin) won the division. Ashland’s Fletcher Rose secured a podium finish, taking 3rd.

  • 197 lbs: Peyton Lemon (Ashland) took home the gold, leading the upper-weights. Tiffin’s Max Millin finished 2nd.

  • 285 lbs: Wyatt Bailey (Ashland) closed out the event as the heavyweight champion. Tiffin’s Jake Powell took 2nd, and Ashland’s Mike Millin also placed 5th.

Final Team Standings

  1. Ashland - 161 points (3 Champions)

  2. Tiffin - 149 points (5 Champions)

  3. Findlay - 140 points (2 Champions)

  4. Lake Erie - 97 points

  5. Thomas More - 76 points

  6. Davenport - 49 points

  7. Kentucky Wesleyan - 3 points