By: Nate LaRiccia (Photo Credit: Ed Hall Jr.)
ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Mount Union men's wrestling team opened its 2025-26 season with its home invitational on Saturday.
The Purple Raiders finished sixth out of 14 schools with 121.5 points. A total of eight Raiders placed, led by sophomore
Josh Carman (Carrollton, OH / Carrollton), who finished second at 141 with a team-high 19.5 team points (3-1), and junior
Steven Marra (Salem, Ohio / West Branch), who placed third at 285 with 18.5 team points (4-1). Marra also had the Most Pins in the Least Amount of Time Award for the second year in a row.
Freshman
Giovanni Duniec (Cleveland, OH / Padua Franciscan) placed fourth at 157 for 15 team points (4-2). Junior
Jacob Starkey (North Lima, OH / South Range) (4-2) at 174 and
Blaine Chrisman (Medina, OH / Medina) at 184 (4-2) both hit the 6-match limit and placed sixth in their respective weights. Freshman
Joseph Kana (Salem, OH / Salem) placed sixth at 149 (3-3).
Wrapping up the finishers for Mount Union were freshman
Layne Armstrong (Chapel Hill, NC / Seaforth) at 133 (7th, 3-2) and junior Mason Taylor (Millersburg, OH / West Holmes) at 125 (8th, 3-3).
Mount Union will next compete in Case Western's Bob Del Rosa Ohio Intercollegiate Open on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m.
Mount Union Invite Results
-JR 125 Mason Taylor (3-3) placed 8th
-FR 133
Layne Armstrong (3-2) placed 7th
-SO 141
Josh Carman (3-1) placed 2nd
-FR 149 (B Pool) Joey Kana (3-3) placed 6th
-FR 157
Giovanni Duniec (4-2) placed 4th
-JR 174 Jake Starkey (4-2) placed 6th (no contest, hit 6 match limit)
-FR 184
Blaine Chrisman (4-2) placed 6th (no contest, hit 6 match limit)
-SR 285
Steven Marra (4-1) placed 3rd (Most Pins Least Amount of Time Award—2nd year in a row).