INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The No. 14 Colorado Mesa men's wrestling team opened action at the 45
th Midwest Classic on Saturday (Dec. 14) morning. Colorado Mesa had a strong showing on day one with six of their ten wrestlers still alive and are in the top-5 as a team.
The Mavericks are sitting in fifth place as a team with 44.5 points and are in the same breath with some of the top teams in Division II wrestling. No. 2 ranked Central Oklahoma leads the tournament with 51.5 points followed by No. 3 Wisconsin-Parkside with 49.5 and McKendree is in third with 46 points.
The Mavericks have six wrestlers that will compete on day two. To finish in the top-8 and earn a spot on the podium, the wrestlers that have reached the quarterfinals will need to win once tomorrow while those that are currently in the consolation bracket will need to win twice.
AT 125 pounds,
Dayson Torgerson reached the quarterfinals after going 2-0 on the day. After receiving a bye, he opened with a 23-7 technical fall win over Orion Wilson of Grand Valley State 23-7 before a sudden victory pin of Jason Strope of McKendree at 6:33.
Torgerson is set to take on Colton Drousias of Glenville State with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
Redshirt junior
Ryan Wheeler reached the quarterfinals at 157 pounds after a pair of first period pins. After picking up a bye in round one, Wheeler pinned Ali Alicea of Kutztown at 1:53 then knocked off Lane Ewing of Mary at 1:29.
He will now take on Casey Barnett of Tiffin with a semifinal spot on the line. Barnett comes into the matchup ranked No. 8 nationally while Wheeler is ranked No. 5.
Senior
Gabriel Carranza moved onto the quarters at 197 pounds after going 2-0 on the day. Carranza received a first round bye then proceeded to earn a 6-3 decision Jeffery Tubbs of Montevallo followed by a pin of Emmanuel Skillings of Central Oklahoma at 6:38. Skillings came into the bout ranked No. 13 in the most recent NWCA Rankings.
Carranza will now face second ranked Logan Kvien of McKendree with a spot in the semifinals for the winner.
285 pounder
Tyler Doyle reached the quarterfinals after going 2-0 on the day after receiving a first round bye. The junior earned a major decision victory over Wyatt Bailey of Ashland 11-2 before a 17-2 technical fall win over No. 12 Layton Schmick of East Stroudsburg.
Doyle will face sixth ranked Carter Blough of Grand Valley State in his quarterfinal matchup. Doyle will enter the matchup ranked No. 5 by the NWCA.
133 pounder
Oran Huff decided to take the long way in his journey to place at the Midwest Classic. The redshirt junior was pinned in his opening match of the tournament but then proceeded to win his next three bouts in convincing fashion. The Lyons, Colo. native earned a pin and a pair of decisions to move into the consolation fifth round.
Huff will need to win two matches to place in the top-8 and will start his day with a matchup against Tyson Cook of Pitt-Johnstown.
Senior
Jason Bynarowicz won his first two matches of the day before falling one step short of the quarterfinals at 184 pounds. The Broomfield, Colo. native earned a technical fall win over Southwest Minnesota State's Adam Sylvester then a 34 second pin of Clayton Downs of Salem before falling to RMAC foe No. 14 Keegan Gelhausen of Chadron State.
He rebounded with a 5-2 decision over No. 13 Andrew Reed of Newberry and will now face Dante Roggio of Mary. He will need two wins for a second straight finish on the podium.
The four Mavericks that will not compete on day two of the tournament all won at least one match on the day.
Action is scheduled to begin at 7am MT from UIndy.
