LA CROSSE, Wis. – It was a thrilling day of wrestling as Ithaca College had five wrestlers competing in the opening day of the 2024 NCAA Division III Championships on Friday at the La Crosse Center. Sophomore Isaias Torres was able to achieve All-American status for the first time in his collegiate career as he highlighted the Bombers performances going 3-1 on the day.
 
Torres first had his matchup against Augsburg's Chance Suddeth and he was able to take him down winning via a 10-5 decision. The sophomore unfortunately fell to Ferrum's Zach Beckner coming out on the short end of an 8-1 result that sent him into the consolation bracket. Torres showed his grit and impressed pinning Joey Langeman (Trine) in 1:42 and then he was able to achieve All-American status squaring off in a familiar regional opponent in Stevens's Luke Hoerle and it was Torres who had the last laugh as he ended up winning 7-3.
 
Graduate student Matthew Beyer was looking to make noise on Friday and got off to a good start as he stuck his opponent in New England College's Zach Soda and earned the third period fall at 5:52. It was then a back-and-forth bout between Beyer and Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Zach Sato as they traded points with Beyer coming up short and dropping a 12-7 decision. Beyer then took on a tough opponent in Loras College's Eric Kinkaid in the consolation bracket and was pinned in 33 seconds.  
 
The Bombers also had Wenchard Pierre-Louis, Jackson Gray and Ryan Galka competing at 157 lbs., 174 lbs., and 197 lbs., respectively but each of them went 0-2 on the day. Wrestling will continue on Saturday at 11 a.m. with Isaias Torres looking to solidify his place in the 133 lbs. bracket.