Millikin Athletics

Millikin senior Bradan Birt won the first NCAA Wrestling Championship in school history taking first place in the 165-pound weight class at the 2022 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on March 11-12. Junior Tommy Russell finished his run in the tournament in eighth place earning All-American honors. The Big Blue finished ninth in the team standings.
 
Birt won the Championship Match by major decision 14-2 over third seeded Kyle Hatch of Wabash College. Birt finished the season 42-0 and has finished his Big Blue career with a 70-match winning streak dating back to 2019. Birt has a career record of 159-13. Birt, who was the 2021 NWCA Division III Championships National Champion, becomes the fourth individual in Millikin history to win an individual NCAA Championship joining swimmers Rodney Miller (six events over three years) and Scott Walker and track sprinter Carl Alexander. Birt's historic career includes being a five-time All-American and a five-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Individual Champion. Birt was named CCIW Most Outstanding Wrestler three times. He was a 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-America® At-Large Second Team honoree. Birt is the Millikin record holder for best season in school history at 42-0 and most wins and best winning percentage in a career (.924). Birt continues a family tradition as Bradan's dad and head coach Ryan Birt was an NCAA Wrestling National Champion (1999).

Birt was also presented the NWCA Most Outstanding Wrestler Award for the Championships and the NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler Award for the 2022 season.