Ryan Harrington got a taste of major college wrestling during his time at the University of North Carolina, but now he's excited about competing at the NCAA Division III level at Coe.

Harrington compiled an impressive 84-0 record and won two state titles in New Jersey as a high school junior and senior, but he did not feel comfortable at North Carolina and decided to leave.

"It wasn't the right fit," he said Saturday after competing at Coe's Turkey Open at Eby Fieldhouse. "I was excited about it at first.

"I'm at a great place now," he said. "I can't wait to get in the room. I'm ready to go."

Harrington, 20, has not been able to practice or wrestle with the Kohawks yet due to NCAA transfer rules. He's currently training on his own and is wrestling unattached, but believes he'll become eligible Dec. 16 and will be available for the bulk of the campaign.

Harrington placed second at 174 pounds in the Turkey Open, which featured 10 schools from around Iowa and the midwest.

"I was a little disappointed with what happened there," he said after losing to Thomas Moman of Grand View, 3-2, in the finals. "I didn't feel like I was wrestling well on my feet."

Harrington did not throw a dart at a map and pick Coe at random. His trainer in New Jersey was Shawn Hall, a two-time All-American wrestler for the Kohawks in 1981-82 and Hall suggested Harrington contact Coe Coach John Oostendorp.

"I knew Coe was a good college and had a great tradition in wrestling," said Harrington. "I bought in right away."

Harrington won the New Jersey state title in 2011 at 160 pounds and captured another state title in 2012 at 170 pounds. He finished his prep career with a 139-11 overall record at Mendham High School in Mendham, N.J.

Oostendorp cannot comment on Harrington until he actually joins the program. Harrington is attending classes at Coe and will be a redshirt freshman with the Kohawks with 3 1/2 years to compete.

Harrington left an NCAA Division I school that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference to join an NCAA Division III program that competes in the Iowa Conference.

"I'm fine with it," he remarked. "I wasn't getting any better down there (at North Carolina). It wasn't the right fit. It was a big campus. Too much going on. I like it here."

The fifth-ranked Kohawks had two champions at the Turkey Open with Ryan Sheldon at 184 pounds and Donnie Horner at 197. Trey Schuler (141), Brody Beck (157) and Kirk Owens (285) placed second.

Andrew Holladay finished fourth at 197. Josh Donkle (149) and Jan Rosenburg (125) placed fifth. Mike Gussarson (133) and Creighton Fox (285) finished sixth.

No team scores were kept.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

125 - Ryak Finch (Grand View) pinned Paul Mascarenas (NIACC), 1:53
133 - Hunter Genco (Grand View) dec. Shiquan Hall (NIACC), 6-4
141 - Derek Miller (Grand View) dec. Trey Schuler (Coe), 6-1
149 - Elijah Sullivan (Grand View) dec. Nosomy Pozo (NIACC), 6-2
157 - Yoanse Mejias (NIACC) pinned Brody Beck, 4:28
165 - Nathaniel Stadeker (Grand View) major dec. Quincy Kalkbrenner
(NIACC), 11-2
174 - Thomas Moman (Grand View) dec. Ryan Harrington (unattached), 3-2
184 - Ryan Sheldon (Coe) pinned Deric Ginther (Graceland), 1:54
197 - Donnie Horner (Coe) major dec. Helmut Rentschleer (Truman State), 13-4
285 - Dean Broghammer (Grand View) dec. Kirk Owens (Coe), 6-1