The No. 17-ranked Lindenwood wrestling team opens the 2015-16 season red-hot after placing 14 wrestlers in the Central Missouri Open on Sunday. David Hamil, Batchka Zulkhuu, Dillon Archer, and Daniel Swan won their weight divisions.
 
Hamil, freshman, took down four wrestlers to capture not only the 184-weight class title, but the Most Outstanding Wrestler award of the tournament. The Deer Park, N.Y. native started the day off with a 15-5 major decision over Chad Lowe of McKendree after earning a bye into the second round. He then took down unattached Kiefer Farrar of Central Missouri in a 5-3 decision to reach the semi-final. At 3:47, Hamil pinned unattached Tyler Nelson of Central Missouri to take on also unatached Jaydin Bears of Missouri in the final. Hamil took the title with a 16-5 major decision.
 
"David had a great day," head coach Chad Smith said. "The most impressive part was how dominate he was. He went out there, wrestled smart, and controlled every aspect of each match."
 
Zulkhuu, junior, took the 174-weight class title with four victories, including two decisions in the semi-finals and finals. He defeated two wrestlers from McKendree by technical fall in the first round and an 11-9 decision in the final. He also won a 15-6 major decision in the second round. The Sterling, Va. native competed at 165 last year and won 15 duels. Patrick Kristen also competed in the 174-weight class and earned a sixth place finish. He won three duels including a pin in the consolation.
 
Archer, junior transfer from Neosho County Community College, won the 197-weight class title with four victories that included three decisions and a pin. He competed in the first round against unatached Kyle Atwood of Baker to open his second collegiate stint. He would win by a 5-2 decision to reach the second round against Nathaniel Tuomaheloa. Archer pinned him at 6:52 to advance the semi-final against Luke Diener of McKendree. He won by an 8-5 decision. In the final, Archer defeated Christian Lance of Fort Hays in the final by a 5-3 decision. Jared McKindley finished sixth place in the 197-weight class after reaching the semi-final by two decisions. The freshman from Mehlville High School nearly reached the final to face Archer, but fell to Lance by a 3-1 decision.
 
Swan, freshman, defeated Brandon Walz of McKendree by a 7-2 decision in the first round. He then won against Jaelynn Gray of Baker by 14-1 major decision. The Oak Forest Ill. native would then win his final two duels by 4-0 and 5-4 decisions respectively to win the 125-weight class title. Fellow teammates Corbin Howard and Carlos Jacquez also placed in the 125-weight class with Howard defeating Jacquez for third by a 3-2 decision. Howard reeled off four wins in a row to finish the tournament while Jacquez won three matches that put him in the semi-finals before falling.
 
Chase Kelley, a freshman from Sheretz, Texas, wrestled unatached and reached the semi-final in the 133-weight class. He would fall in his next three matches, but ultimately finished sixth place. As a whole, Kelley collected two victories including a pin in the first round.
 
Jared Mestas finished fourth that included reaching as far as the semi-final in the 141-weight class. The sophomore from Pueblo, Colo. won three total matches including a 15-1 major decision in the second round.
 
Colton Orlando defeated three opponents to reach the finals in the 157-weight class. Orlando recorded one pin and two decisions before falling to unatached Keegan McCormick of Missouri by a 11-0 major decision. He won seven duels last season.
 
Kyle Jolas collected three victories and a fourth place finish in the 165-weight class. He pinned two opponents and won one duel by a 5-0 decision. He would lose by a 2-0 decision for third place.
 
Jake Borgmeyer finished second in the 285-weight class after routing three opponents that included two decisions. The sophomore from Hannibal, Mo. posted 15 wins last season. John Kramer also competed at 285 and placed fifth. He compiled three victories and reached as far as the quarter-finals.
 
"I was very pleased with our overall performance. We wrestled well and put ourselves in a position to win each match," coach Smith said. "The guys rallied around each other, supported each other, and performed as a team.
 
"It was a great start to the season and something we can build off of for the tough schedule ahead."
 
The Lions will compete in their second tournament of the season in the Maryville Kaufman-Brand Open on Saturday, November 14. They will start at 9:00 am.