WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. -- Six Tiger wrestlers placed in the Top 8 Saturday as Campbellsville University competed in its first NAIA regular season tournament at the Patriot Open, hosted by University of the Cumberlands. CU traveled to NCAA Division I program Eastern Michigan University last week.

"We competed hard, got a lot of matches in and are looking forward to getting back to work with the team tomorrow," said CU head coach Franky James. "We have a lot of young guys that are hungry to keep improving."

Senior Allen Scruggs picked up right where he left off last season, as he won four straight matches to win the 197-pound bracket. The 2012 runner-up in the NAIA 184-pound championship bracket entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed and used three decisions and a major decision to win the day.

"It was my first tournament. I didn't do too bad, but I still need some work," said Scruggs. "I just took on ematch at a time and let the match speak for itself."

Following Scruggs' lead was junior Matt Milton, a two-time NAIA qualifier, which finished runner up in the 149-pound bracket at the Open. Milton defeated teammate Kyle Terry in the semifinals before falling to Cumberlands' Antonie Linares, ranked No.2  in the NAIA. Terry went on to finish fourth in the tournament, including a big win over Cumberland University's Steven Sandefer, ranked No.  7 in the NAIA.

At 141 pounds, Shorter University transfer Colby Rinehart, ranked ninth in the NAIA, placed third in his debut as a Tiger. DeCoreus Leavell was fifth at 133 pounds and Michael Johnson was fourth at 184 pounds.

Campbellsville will return to action Nov. 17 at the Ashland University Open in Ohio.

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