LEBANON, Ill. | Melvin Price Convocation Center - No.7 McKendree University men's wrestling (10-8, 3-2 GLVC) captured its sixth Great Lakes Valley Conference championship on Sunday afternoon, beating out top-seeded Upper Iowa in the title bout, 23-17, after moving on to the championship round on a 21-19 victory over third-seeded Indianapolis duirng the semifinals. The Bearcats used big victories to propel them to the title, including #3 197
Logan Kvien defeating top-ranked 197 Derek Blubaugh while #11 184
Zeke Waltz made his return with pin falls against UIndy's AIdan Peterson and UIU's Colter Bye. The host squad added to its expansive trophy case, totaling six conference crowns including 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, and now 2025. McKendree will be back on the mats after a quick break with NCAA Super Regional championships on March 1 at Central Missouri in Warrenburg, Missouri.
Semifinal Round vs. 3-Seed / No.23 Indianapolis
|
Match Summary |
No.23 UINDY |
No.7 MCK |
| 125 |
Jadon Gyan (Indianapolis) over Jason Strope (McKendree) Dec 6-4 |
3.0 |
0 |
| 133 |
Toby Billerman (Indianapolis) over Anthony Bernardo (McKendree) Fall 6:49 |
6.0 |
0 |
| 141 |
Brayden Lowery (Indianapolis) over #3 Ronan Schuelke (McKendree) Fall 3:44 |
6.0 |
0 |
| 149 |
#7 Joey Semerad (McKendree) over Jackson Hoover (Indianapolis) Dec 5-4 |
0 |
3.0 |
| 157 |
Cale Hoskinson (McKendree) over Nathan Conley (Indianapolis) Dec 4-1 |
0 |
3.0 |
| 165 |
#7 Cory Peterson (McKendree) over Shane Bates (Indianapolis) Dec 4-2 |
0 |
3.0 |
| 174 |
#7 Matt Ortiz (McKendree) over Trey Sizemore (Indianapolis) Dec 2-1 |
0 |
3.0 |
| 184 |
#11 Zeke Waltz (McKendree) over Aidan Petersen (Indianapolis) Fall 5:49 |
0 |
6.0 |
| 197 |
#3 Logan Kvien (McKendree) over #1 Derek Blubaugh (Indianapolis) SV-1 4-1 |
0 |
3.0 |
| 285 |
Cale Gray (Indianapolis) over Ridge Schutte (McKendree) Maj 10-2 |
4.0 |
0 |
| Dual Meet Score |
19.0 |
21.0 |
Championship vs. 1-Seed / No.17 Upper Iowa
|
Match Summary |
No.17 UIU |
No.7 MCK |
| 125 |
Jason Strope (McKendree) over Treyton Ackman (Upper Iowa) Maj 14-5 |
0 |
4.0 |
| 133 |
Dawson Schmit (Upper Iowa) over Anthony Bernardo (McKendree) Dec 5-1 |
3.0 |
0 |
| 141 |
#3 Ronan Schuelke (McKendree) over Ryan Wehner (Upper Iowa) Maj 9-1 |
0 |
4.0 |
| 149 |
#9 Ethen Doty (Upper Iowa) over #7 Joey Semerad (McKendree) Fall 1:36 |
6.0 |
0 |
| 157 |
Cale Hoskinson (McKendree) over Dalton Schams (Upper Iowa) Dec 8-1 |
0 |
3.0 |
| 165 |
#7 Cory Peterson (McKendree) over Collin Altensey (Upper Iowa) Dec 4-2 |
0 |
3.0 |
| 174 |
#7 Matt Ortiz (McKendree) over #3 Lawson Losee (Upper Iowa) Dec 3-0 |
0 |
3.0 |
| 184 |
#11 Zeke Waltz (McKendree) over #7 Colter Bye (Upper Iowa) Fall 5:50 |
0 |
6.0 |
| 197 |
#15 Geoffrey Freeman (Upper Iowa) over Shamon Handegan (McKendree) Maj 16-4 |
4.0 |
0 |
| 285 |
Joshua Gaye (Upper Iowa) over Ridge Schutte (McKendree) Maj 15-4 |
4.0 |
0 |
| Dual Meet Score |
17.0 |
23.0 |
NOTES
McKendree claimed its sixth GLVC conference title since the league began sponsoring the sport in 2017. The Bearcats hold six of nine crowns.
197
Logan Kvien, ranked #3 in his weight class, claimed victory over returning national champion and top-ranked Derek Blubaugh of UIndy. The win marks Kvien's first triumph over Blubaugh.
184
Zeke Waltz, ranked 11th, made his return in the conference championships, tallying two pin falls victories, including a title-locking win over UIU's Colter Bye, who currently ranks seventh.
With the wins in the GLVC championship, the Bearcats finish the year 10-8 in duals to mark nine-straight seasons above .500 in dual bouts.
UP NEXT
March 1 | NCAA Super Regionals | Warrensburg, Missouri - University of Central Missouri
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