CHESTERFIELD, Mo. - No.5 McKendree University men's wrestling opened the season on Saturday at the Maryville Kaufman/Brand/Balyl Open at Parkway Central, placing 18 individuals between the Elite and Amateur brackets while taking the title in one weight class overall. The Bearcats tallied nine wrestlers with top-three placements, including first, second, and third, in the 174-pound class as redshirt junior
Matt Ortiz championed the weight. McKendree in back on the mats a week from Saturday, on November 11 at UW-Parkside for a non-conference dual in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
125 CLASS
Redshirt senior
Christian Mejia pinned his way into the first-place bout, winning his first, quarterfinal, and semifinal rounds via fall. His first match was against Ozarks' John Raymundo, which was finished at the 1:10 mark, while his next match was capped-off at the 4:55 mark against KWC's Bryson Rowley. The semis put Mejia against Drury's Deagan Fugitt where the redshirt senior added his third pinfall at the 5:21 mark. Mejia's first-place matchup was versus Indiana's Michael Spangler. Mejia notched one point in the bout, falling 7-1 against the Hoosier. Mejia tallied a 3-1 day to finish second in his weight class.
Junior
Jason Strope finished third place in the opening tournament of the year, winning four-straight to end the tournament. Following his quarterfinal stumble, the junior pinned Ozarks' John Raymundo (6:10) before winning by tech fall over Maryville's Sam Shafer (17-1). Stroped then went on to get two decisions, beating Drury's Fugitt (7-3) and UIndy's Nathan Smith (4-2). Strope fell to Smith earlier in the day in the quarterfinal bout, 9-6. Strope finished in third place, going 4-1.
133 CLASS
Redshirt senior
Ryan Ripplinger was another Bearcat in the finals on the day with Ripplinger collecting a fall victory and a decision to lead him to the first-place battle. The133-pounder defeated in-league foe Noah Cantu of UIndy to begin the day via pin in the sixth minute of the match. Ripplinger then topped Maryville's JP Homfeld by four points for the decision. The 133 first-place match saw Ripplinger face Mizzou's Korbin Shepherd. Ripplinger battled through the final horn but fell 8-3. Ripplinger went 2-1 to finish third in the 133.
157 CLASS
Junior
Noah Villarreal finished out the tournament with four-straight wins following a dropped opening match against Mizzou's James Conway. Villarreal flipped his day around in the second round, grabbing a major decision over fellow Bearcat in junior
Christian Pfeiffer-Laguerre, 11-2. Following his first win of the year, Villarreal claimed his next match by fall (1:04) against Gavin Morawitz of Quincy. The final two bouts saw Villarreal put up two decisions, beating Mizzou's Jeremy Jakowtisch (9-4) and SIUE's Caine Tyus (6-4). The junior took third in the 157 class, going 4-1.
165 CLASS
Redshirt junior
Cory Peterson captured third place in his return to the mats after his season-ending injury during the 43rd Midwest Classic in 2022. Peterson opened the tournament with two tech fall victories, beating KWC's Gabe Hunt (19-4) and Fontbonne's Micah Dennis (21-6). The redshirt junior stumbled in his third match, falling via decision. Peterson recovered well with a decision in the next bout before taking the third-place match by fall over Mizzou's Brant Whitaker. Peterson went 4-1 to claim third.
174 CLASS
The Bearcats went first-second-third in the 174 class as redshirt junior
Matt Ortiz went 4-0 to take first in his weight class. Redshirt sophomore
Zeke Waltz and sophomore
Cale Hoskinson (unattached) took second and third in the 174 weight class.
Ortiz went for two decisions, a major, and a pin during the tournament, opening up the season with a fall against Drury's Connor Zimmermann (2:08). The redshirt junior beat Mizzou's Ellis Pfleger on a 7-3 decision before punching his finals match ticket with an 11-3 major over UIndy's Owen Butler. In the first-place bout, Ortiz met his fellow Bearcat in Waltz and took the match 1-0 over Waltz. Ortiz's 4-0 slate earned him first place at 174.
Waltz notched a 3-1 day with a major, tech fall, and decision victory to lead him to the first-place battle. The redshirt sophomore started the tournament with an 18-4 major against SIUE's Hayden Trezek. The major decision by Waltz was followed with technical superiority over Quincy's Aaron Taylor. Waltz booked his first-place match spot via 11-4 decision over Ozarks' Johnathon Ward.
Bearcat newcomer
Cale Hoskinson wrestled unattached in the tournament, going 5-1 enroute to his third-place finish at 174. Hoskinson started the day with a sudden-victory over SIUE's Hayden Shepherd. He dropped the quarterfinal bout to UIndy's Owne Butler but recovered in the third match of the day with a major over Trezek of SIUE (10-1). Hoskinson then added a decision against Pfleger of Mizzou (7-4) and Ward of Ozarks (5-3). Hoskinson captured third place with a 7-6 decision against Central Missouri's Garrett Deason (7-6).
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
125 Elite |
Christian Mejia | 3-1, 2nd Place
125 Elite |
Jason Strope | 4-1, 3rd Place
133 Elite |
Ryan Ripplinger | 2-1, 2nd Place
141 Elite |
Joey Semerad | 3-2, 5th Place
141 Elite |
Ronan Schuelke | 3-3, 6th Place
141 Elite |
Rasheek Bonds | 1-2
149 Elite |
Josh Laubach | 3-2
149 Elite |
Ryan Schepers | 2-1, 7th Place
149 Elite |
Josh Ramos | 1-2
149 Elite |
Logan Rathjen | 2-2
157 Elite |
Noah Villarreal | 4-1, 3rd Place
157 Elite |
Christian Pfeiffer-Laguerre | 1-2
165 Elite |
Cory Peterson | 4-1, 3rd Place
174 Elite |
Matt Ortiz | 4-0, 1st Place
174 Elite |
Zeke Waltz | 3-1, 2nd Place
174 Elite |
Cale Hoskinson | 5-1, 3rd Place
174 Elite |
Zane Phillips | 0-2
184 Elite |
Ryan Haynes | 3-2, 7th Place
184 Elite |
Jordan Alcala | 0-2
184 Elite |
Ridge Schutte | 1-2
197 Elite |
Logan Kvien | 2-2, 4th
285 Elite |
Caleb Guise | 2-3, 6th
285 Elite |
Tyler Haynes | 3-2, 7th Place
285 Elite |
Jacob Aharrah | 0-2
141 Amateur |
Hayden Osment | 0-2
149 Amateur |
Cody Martin | 0-2
165 Amateur |
Rylee Edwards | 3-2, 4th Place
174 Amateur |
Brandon Lloyd | 0-3
184 Amateur |
Lucas Wendling | 2-1, 2nd Place
UP NEXT
No.5 McKendree will hit the road for its first dual, going to Kenosha, Wisconsin for the Wisconsin Wrestling Showcase to take on UW-Parkside on Saturday, November 11 at 2:00PM.
