Full Results of 40th Annual Midwest Classic
Upper Iowa placed ninth at the 40th Annual Midwest Classic hosted by the University of Indianapolis on Saturday and Sunday. The No. 5 Peacocks were one of 39 teams competing for the title including 30 teams either in the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association Top 25 or receiving votes. No. 4 McKendree University claimed the team title with 127.5 points thanks to seven placewinners and two champions.
The Peacocks were led by two placewinners in 133-pounder
Justin Folley, who placed fourth, and 184-pounder
Dalton Hahn, who placed fifth. Three other Peacocks,
Maleek Williams,
Brock Benitz and
Nick Baumler, entered day two on the consolation side, but dropped their first matches of the day to end their run.
Upper Iowa tied for the most pins in the tournament with Maryville; both teams posted 11 falls, with UIU claiming the least amount of time at 25:52. Folley scored three falls, while
Triston Westerlund and
Jordan Gundrum each recorded a pair of falls.
The top ten teams were McKendree (127.5), Maryville University (87), Lindenwood University (85), the University of Indianapolis (82), Tiffin University (76), the University of Central Oklahoma (72), Lake Erie College (69), Ashland University (63), Upper Iowa (61) and the University of North Carolina-Pembroke (58.5).
Folley scored 18.5 points for the Peacocks with a 5-2 record. Folley pushed his way into the quarterfinals with a win by fall over his first opponent from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a decision over a wrestler from Ashland. Tate Barnhardt of the University of Mary scored a tech fall win over Folley in the quarters, but UIU's 133-pounder battled back in the consolation bracket. Folley scored two pins on the back side of the bracket to reach the consolation semis where he posted an 8-7 decision over Danny Swan of Lindenwood. Barnhardt defeated Folley again in the third place match by a 10-4 decision.
Hahn scored 15 points for UIU in the 184-pound brackets placing fifth with a 5-2 record. The sophomore won his first two matches by sudden victory over an opponent from Chadron State University and a major decision to move into the quarters over a Maryville University wrestler. Heath Gray of Central Oklahoma majored Hahn in the quarters, but Hahn rebounded with two wins to stay alive in the consolation including win by fall and close 8-7 decision. Hahn lost his consolation semi match 3-1 to Brandon Sloop of UNC-Pembroke, but then gained a win by medical forfeit in the fifth place match.
Williams dropped his first match of the weekend in sudden victory 9-7, but won three matches in the consolation bracket on Saturday to stay alive including a pair of decisions and a tech fall. The redshirt seniors run ended in the consolation fourth round against Marcus Povlick of McKendree in a 7-4 decision.
Brock Benitz registered a 3-2 record at the tournament with a pair of bonus-point wins including a fall in his first match and a major in his final match on Saturday to push him into the action on day two. His first loss came in sudden victory in the second round of the championship bracket, while his loss on Sunday came in a 6-3 decision to Dalton George of Ohio Valley University.
The final Peacock to wrestle on Sunday was
Nick Baumler. UIU's 197-pounder went 3-2 with a win by fall and a pair of decisions including one in sudden victory. Baumler pinned an MSU Moorhead opponent in the opening match, but lost a 12-8 decision to Jared McKindley of Lindenwood in the second bout. Baumler rallied with two more wins on Saturday to earn a place in the Sunday schedule but lost a 4-3 decision in the opening action on Sunday to Nicholas Mason of Tiffin.
Jordan Gundrum went 3-2 at 174 pounds with a pair of wins by fall, while
Tucker Black (157) and
Triston Westerlund (285) both posted 2-2 records. Black got a win by major, while Westerlund's two wins came by fall.
Ryan Schmalen (141) and
Ryan Steffen (149) both registered a win in their run.
Upper Iowa will head to break next week before returning in the New Year. The Peacocks will open the 2019 calendar at the NWCA Nationals Dual in Louisville, Kentucky on Jan. 4-5.
