Williamsport, Pa. – January 10, 2026 – For the first time since 2012 and for the fifth time in program history, the Springfield College wrestling team finished as the runner-up at the Budd Whitehill National Duals. 

The Pride defeated 24th ranked Ohio Northern University, 22-21, on a tie breaker before falling to 11th ranked Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 29-21, in the championship final. Both Jacob Deguire (Schenectady, N.Y.) and Myles Leonard (Waldwick, N.J.) were named to the All-Tournament Team after they both recorded five pins in their five matchups over the weekend. Today's meeting with Eau Claire was the third in program history and first since 1999, while the matchup with Ohio Northern was the fifth meeting between the clubs and first since 2024. The Pride are now 4-1 all-time against Ohio Northern.

Ohio Northern jumped out to a 7-0 lead following a major decision at 125 and a decision at 133. Ryan Kozdra (Mahwah, N.J.) put Springfield on the board with a 4-1 decision at 141 before Ty Stewart (Dracut, Mass.) picked up his fourth win of the weekend coming as a 4-0 decision at 149. Ohio Northern held a 17-6 lead but pins by Deguire and Leonard at 174 and 184 put Springfield ahead 18-17.  Ohio Northern took a 21-18 lead after a major decision at 197, but Ben Katz (Medford, N.Y.) earned a hard fought 11-8 decision at 285 to secure a 21-21 tie. Springfield was crowned the winners based on the tie breaker for most pins in the dual (2-1) pushing the Pride into the championship final.

Springfield held a 9-6 lead through three bouts against Eau Claire as Esuar Ordonez (Putnam Valley, N.Y.)pinned Wyatt Unser at 133 before Kozdra earned a 17-11 decision at 141. The Blugolds picked up 14 combined points at 149, 157 and 165 before once again the duo of Deguire and Leonard pulled Springfield ahead 21-20 with back-to-back pins. Eau Claire earned a 17-0 technical fall and an 11-3 major decision at 285 to secure the 29-21 win and the Whitehill Duals Championship title.

Springfield 22, Ohio Northern 21
125 – Kurt Mokros (ONU) def. Hunter Sanchez (SC) – MD 12-2 – ONU 4, SC 0
133 – Chase Vanderhorst (ONU) def. Esuar Ordonez (SC) – Dec 6-4 – ONU 7, SC 0
141 – Ryan Kozdra (SC) def. Casper Caizzo (ONU) – Dec 4-1 – ONU 7, SC 3
149 – Ty Stewart (SC) def. Max Kaye (ONU) – Dec 4-0 – ONU 7, SC 3
157 – Jovanni Greco (ONU) def. Liam Boyle (SC) – Pin 3:13 – ONU 13, SC 6
165 – Ben Hegler (ONU) def. Gabe Thomasson (SC) – MD 16-6 – ONU 17, SC 6
174 – Jacob Deguire (SC) def. Jack Hoffman (ONU) – Pin 1:53 – ONU 17, SC 12
184 – Myles Leonard (SC) def. Ajay Locke (ONU) – Pin 0:58 – SC 18, ONU 17
197 – Myles Johnson (ONU) def. Nick Rogers (SC) - MD 11-1 – MD 11-1 – ONU 21, SC 18
285 – Ben Katz (SC) def. Troy Dyszkiewicz (ONU) – Dec 11-8 – SC 21, ONU 21
Springfield wins dual 22-21 with most pins (2-1)

Wisconsin Eau Claire 29, Springfield 21
125 – Travis Moelter (UWEC) wins by forfeit – UWEC 6, SC 0
133 – Esuar Ordonez (SC) def. Wyatt Unser (UWEC) – Pin 3:48 – SC 6, UWEC 6
141 – Ryan Kozdra (SC) def. Calvin Singewald (UWEC) – Dec 17-11 – SC 9, UWEC 6
149 – Landon Church (UWEC) def. Ty Stewart (SC) – MD 11-0 – UWEC 10, SC 9
157 – Briar Ivey (UWEC) def. Jeremiah Cruz (SC) – Pin 4:11 – UWEC 16, SC 9
165 – Jonathon Harvey (UWEC) def. Gabe Thomasson (SC) – MD 12-1 – UWEC 20, SC 9
174 – Jacob Deguire (SC) def. Ben Peterson (UWEC) – Pin 2:07 – UWEC 20, SC 15
184 – Myles Leonard (SC) def. Zak McPhee (UWEC) – Pin 1:49 – SC 21, UWEC 20
197 – Ian Pepple (UWEC) def. Oliver Parker (SC) – TF 17-0 – UWEC 25, SC 21
285 – Cole Matulenko (UWEC) def. Ben Katz (SC) – MD 11-3 – UWEC 29, SC 21

Sign up for free today to receive the latest news about your favorite Springfield College Athletics program directly to your email here. 

For the latest on Springfield College Athletics, follow the Pride on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to tune into all Springfield College Athletic events