(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 10)—The No. 5 McKendree University wrestling team ended its dual season on a high note on Wednesday night with a 41-6 win over No. 15 Missouri Baptist University. The Bearcats ended their regular season with a dual record of 10-5.
The Bearcats will travel to Lebanon, Tenn., to start its postseason at the NAIA East Regional Qualifier on February 20. The event is being held at Cumberland University and matches will begin at 10 a.m.
Senior Chas Maloch (Corona, Calif./Santiago) (Corona, Calif./Santiago) started off the dual with a 4-2 decision victory over Mike Wakim, the NAIA's No. 12 ranked wrestler at heavyweight, to give McKendree an early 3-0 lead. The Spartans took their only lead of the night in a forfeit win by Zach Meury at 125 pounds to take a 6-3 lead. Junior A.J. Ciccarelli (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) tied the dual , 6-6, by defeating Gary Brooks in a 5-2 decision at 133 pounds and sophomore Kyle Williams (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) gave the Bearcats a 10-6 lead with a 12-2 major decision win over Jake Thornton at 141 pounds.
McKendree took a 16-6 lead after a forfeit win by sophomore John Burns (Decatur, Mo./Decatur) (Decatur, Mich./Decatur) at 149 pounds and freshman Isaiah Gonzalez (Montgomery, Ill./Montini Catholic) (Montgomery, Ill./Montini Catholic) defeated Gerald Harris in a 5-3 decision to push the Bearcats ahead 19-6. A forfeit win by David Dwyer (South Beloit, Ill./Hononegah) (South Beloit, Ill./Hononegah) at 165 pounds extended the Bearcats lead to 25-6 with three matches remaining. Senior Aaron Winning (Highland, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Highland, Ill./Althoff Catholic) had the lone victory by fall on the night by pinning Gavilan Bland in 1:57 and junior Tanner Wolk (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./Ste. Genevieve) (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./Ste. Genevieve) followed with a forfeit win at 184 pounds to give McKendree a 37-6 lead heading into the final match. In a battle of top five wrestlers at 197 pounds, junior Andrew Sanchez (Shiloh, Ill./O'Fallon) (Shiloh, Ill./O'Fallon Township), ranked No. 2 in the NAIA, won a major decision, 14-5, over No. 5 Ike Okenwa to close out the Bearcats' 41-6 win.
Wrestling Dual Results
No. 5 McKendree University 41 vs. No. 15 Missouri Baptist University 6
Matches began at Heavyweight
125 – Zach Meury (MBU) wins by forfeit
133 - AJ Ciccarelli (McK) def. Gary Brooks (MBU), Dec. 5-2
141 - Kyle Williams (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) (McK) def. Jake Thornton (MBU), Maj. Dec. 12-2
149 – John Burns (Decatur, Mo./Decatur) (McK) wins by forfeit
157 - Isaiah Gonzalez (Montgomery, Ill./Montini Catholic) (McK) def. Gerald Harris (MBU), Dec. 5-3
165 – David Dwyer (South Beloit, Ill./Hononegah) (McK) wins by forfeit
174 - Aaron Winning (Highland, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (McK) def. Gavilan Bland (MBU), Fall 1:57
184 - Tanner Wolk (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./Ste. Genevieve) (McK) wins by forfeit
197 - Andrew Sanchez (Shiloh, Ill./O'Fallon) (McK) def. Ike Okenwa (MBU), Maj. Dec. 14-5
HWT – Chas Maloch (Corona, Calif./Santiago) (McK) def. Mike Wakim (MBU), Dec. 4-2
-McK-
