ADRIAN, Mich. – Philip Burney led the way for the Trine University men's wrestling team, winning the 174 weight class at the 2024 Adrian Invite. All told, ten members of the team placed at the event.

Burney opened the day with an 8-1 decision to advance to the semifinal round of the competition. He recorded a tech fall in just under three minutes to advance to the championship match where he won in a 4-0 decision against Chase Crutchley of Case Western Reserve University.

Kyler Bills had the other podium finish for the team while competing at 285. The senior dropped his opening match to head to the consolation bracket. He won both matches to capture third in the weight class. He had a 2-0 decision in the semifinals and then 2-2 sudden victory in the third place match.

Three members of the team finished fourth in their respective classes. Davin George was the opponent of his teammate in the 285 third place match. He finished the day with a 5-3 decision and a 14-5 major decision. Austin Crowder dropped his opening match at 157, before advancing by forfeit and with a 21-15 decision to reach the third place match.
Tommy Miller rounded out the trio at 141. He opened the day with a pair of major decisions, reaching the semifinals of the championship bracket before falling to the consolation side of the event. He picked up another major decision, this time 8-0, to reach the third place match where he fell by the score of 11-7.

Lakin Webb at 165 and Peyton Wagoner at 197 both finished fifth. Webb won his first match of the day before falling to the consolation side of the bracket. From there he pieced together two decisions and then took the fifth place match with an 18-6 major decision. Wagoner dropped his opening match and then won two straight consolation matches with tech falls before winning the fifth place match in a medical forfeit.

Another trio of Thunder rounded out the placers for the day, each earning sixth. Karrington Cooper had an 8-3 decision on his way to sixth in the 125 weight class. Christopher Briner had three wins by decision during his run for sixth in the 149 bracket. Gavin Malone rounded out the group with two pins during the championship side of the 184 bracket, before dropping three straight to finish sixth.

The team will return home for their own invite in their next competition. The Trine Invite is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 9.