INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - No.13 McKendree University men's wrestling competed in the 44th Midwest Classic at UIndy's Nicoson Hall this weekend, tallying 84.5 team points to place 10th in the largest regular season NCAA Division II tournament which was composed of 51 squads. The Bearcats placed four at the outing with two wrestlers becoming multi-time Midwest Classic placers in Mejia and Peterson while Schuelke and Ortiz earned their first career placements in the tournament. McKendree takes a quick break from competition with NWCA National Duals taking place at the beginning of January in Cedar Falls, Iowa at the UNI Dome.
125 | #4 Christian Mejia | 2nd Place - 23.0 Team Points
Champ. Round 1 - #4 Mejia (McKendree) 11-4 won by fall over William Finnearty (Limestone) 4-6 (Fall 3:43)
Champ. Round 2 - #4 Mejia (McKendree) 11-4 won by fall over Jake Arnold (Notre Dame) 0-2 (Fall 2:20)
Champ. Round 3 -#4 Mejia (McKendree) 11-4 won by major decision over William Burgess (Seton Hill) 16-4 (MD 18-6)
Quarterfinal - #4 Mejia (McKendree) 11-4 won by major decision over #6 Jose Diaz (Gannon) 12-4 (MD 17-6)
Semifinal - #4 Mejia (McKendree) 11-4 won by decision over #11 Quade Smith (Chadron State) 10-4 (Dec 8-3)
1st Place Match - #2 James Joplin (Lander ) 6-0 won by decision over #4 Mejia (McKendree) 11-4 (Dec 6-4)
141 | Ronan Schuelke | 5th Place - 14.0 Team Points
Champ. Round 1 - Schuelke (McKendree) 14-7 won by decision over Joseph Misitano (New Mexico Highlands) 13-8 (Dec 3-0)
Champ. Round 2 - Schuelke (McKendree) 14-7 won by decision over Ethan Leake (Chadron State) 7-4 (Dec 5-2)
Champ. Round 3 - Grayston DiBlasi (Colorado School of Mines) 11-4 won by decision over Schuelke (McKendree) 14-7 (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Round 4 - Schuelke (McKendree) 14-7 won by major decision over Christian Gordon (Emmanuel) 2-2 (MD 10-0)
Cons. Round 5 - Schuelke (McKendree) 14-7 won by decision over Angel Flores (Adams State) 11-5 (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 6 - Schuelke (McKendree) 14-7 won in tie breaker - 1 over Braydon Mogle (Northern State) 10-3 (TB-1 2-1)
Cons. Round 7 - Schuelke (McKendree) 14-7 won in sudden victory - 1 over Isham Peace (Lander ) 3-3 (SV-1 7-4)
Cons. Semi - #2 Tate Murty (Upper Iowa) 8-3 won in sudden victory - 1 over Schuelke (McKendree) 14-7 (SV-1 4-1)
5th Place Match - Schuelke (McKendree) 14-7 won by medical forfeit over Blake Mulkey (Indianapolis) 13-4 (MFFL)
165 | #12 Cory Peterson | 3rd Place - 18.0 Team Points
Champ. Round 1 - #12 Peterson (McKendree) 11-3 won by decision over Ashton Labelle (Southwest Minnesota State) 8-7 (Dec 8-3)
Champ. Round 2 - #12 Peterson (McKendree) 11-3 won by tech fall over Bryar Lane (Kentucky Wesleyan ) 2-7 (TF-1.5 3:00 (20-3))
Champ. Round 3 - #12 Peterson (McKendree) 11-3 won by decision over Jace Fisher (Newman) 17-3 (Dec 9-3)
Quarterfinal - #4 Dillon Walker (Mercyhurst) 15-2 won in tie breaker - 1 over #12 Peterson (McKendree) 11-3 (TB-1 6-5)
Cons. Round 6 - #12 Peterson (McKendree) 11-3 won by decision over John Ridle (Central Missouri) 7-4 (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Round 7 - #12 Peterson (McKendree) 11-3 won by decision over Dalton Gimbor (Kutztown) 4-2 (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Semi - #12 Peterson (McKendree) 11-3 won by decision over Nicholas Coreno (Gannon) 15-5 (Dec 7-3)
3rd Place Match - #12 Peterson (McKendree) 11-3 won by fall over Jace Fisher (Newman) 17-3 (Fall 5:27)
174 | #5 Matt Ortiz | 7th Place - 10.5 Team Points
Champ. Round 1 - #5 Ortiz (McKendree) 13-3 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - #5 Ortiz (McKendree) 13-3 won by fall over Lawson Losee (Upper Iowa) 10-5 (Fall 4:07)
Champ. Round 3 - #5 Ortiz (McKendree) 13-3 won by major decision over Cole Hivnor (Gannon) 10-5 (MD 12-1)
Quarterfinal - #6 John Joll (UNC Pembroke) 5-0 won by fall over #5 Ortiz (McKendree) 13-3 (Fall 0:51)
Cons. Round 6 - #5 Ortiz (McKendree) 13-3 won by decision over Logan Berger (Chadron State) 12-3 (Dec 8-4)
Cons. Round 7 - Trey Sizemore (Indianapolis) 18-4 won in sudden victory - 1 over #5 Ortiz (McKendree) 13-3 (SV-1 7-4)
7th Place Match - #5 Ortiz (McKendree) 13-3 won by decision over Brody Hemauer (UW-Parkside) 5-3 (Dec 2-0)
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
125 | #4
Christian Mejia | 5-1, 2nd Place - 23.0 Team Points
133 |
Ryan Ripplinger | 4-2, 9.0 Team Points
141 |
Ronan Schuelke | 7-2, 5th Place - 14.0 Team Points
149 |
Joey Semerad | 3-2, 5.5 Team Points
157 |
Josh Laubach | 3-2, 4.5 Team Points
165 | #12
Cory Peterson | 7-1, 3rd Place - 18.0 Team Points
174 | #5
Matt Ortiz | 5-2, 7th Place - 10.5 Team Points
184 |
Zeke Waltz | 0-2
197 | #6
Logan Kvien | 0-2
HWT |
Caleb Guise | 0-2
TEAM RESULTS
1. Lander
2. UW-Parkside
3. Central Oklahoma
4. Upper Iowa
5. UMary
t6. Indianapolis
t6. Pitt-Johnstown
8. Chadron State
9. Northern State
10. McKendree - 84.5 / 7 scorers / 4 placers
NOTES
McKendree placed 10th in the 51-team 44th Midwest Classic, the largest-ever rendition of the tournament, scoring 84.5 team points over seven wrestlers.
Christian Mejia led the effort with 23.0 in his runner-up finish.
Christian Mejia and
Cory Peterson became multi-time Midwest Classic placers over the weekend with Mejia taking second with a 5-1 slate and Peterson taking third behind a 7-1 record.
Ronan Schuelke and
Matt Ortiz became first-time placers at the Midwest Classic with Schuelke placing fifth with a 7-2 record and Ortiz taking seventh with a 5-2 mark.
The Bearcats totaled nine falls, four major decisions, and three tech falls in the two-day tournament while collecting 34 wins overall.
UP NEXT
January 5-6 | National Wrestling Coaches Association - National Duals | Cedar Falls, Iowa - UNI Dome
