WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Freshman standout wrestler
Taylor Smith (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata) continued his banner season Saturday with a pair of wins to secure the 149-pound title at the NCAA Division III Southeast Wrestling Championships.
Smith completed a 5-0 weekend to not only secure the individual title but also a spot at the upcoming NCAA Division III National Championships. Smith is the first W&J freshman since Jacob Spearman (2012-13) to qualify for Nationals.
Smith opened his day with a second period fall over Cole Homet of Waynesburg to earn his spot in the finals. Smith and Homet were meeting for the third time this season. Smith has got the better of Homet in each of the three meetings this season between the conference rivals.
Smith picked up a first period takedown before an escape by Homet left the score at 3-1 after the first period. Homet cut the deficit to a single point with an escape in the second period. However, Smith recorded a takedown just 23 seconds later before securing the fall. Smith's second period fall over Homet came in 4:34.
Smith then squared off with Evan Lindner of Washington & Lee in the 149-pound final. After a scoreless first period, Smith used a second period takedown to take a 3-1 lead into the third. Smith closed strong, using a reversal and third period takedown to secure the 9-2 victory over Linder.
Smith becomes W&J's first regional champ since Hunter Neely captured the 174-pound title at the 2020 NCAA Southeast Regional Championships.
Smith's banner season now takes him to the state of Wisconsin. The NCAA Division III Championships will be hosted by the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse in La Crosse, Wisc. on March 15-16.
Head Coach Sonnie Blanco On Taylor Smith Winning the Regional Championship, Qualifying for Nationals
"The coaching staff and I are so incredibly proud of Taylor for what he has accomplished today for himself and our program.
Taylor Smith is the guy who is constantly doing the right things, on and off the mat, so his win today comes as no surprise. With Taylor coming in as a freshman and achieving so much this season, it truly shows the direction and goal we have for the wrestling program as a whole. However, we are not finished yet! Our goal is to get someone on the podium at Nationals and there is no one more deserving of that than Taylor."
