Millikin Wrestlers Go 2-2 at NWCA National Duals

The Millikin University wrestling team return to action after a holiday break, competing in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals in Fort Wayne, Indiana on January 4.
         The Big Blue went 2-2 in the event that featured 24 of the country top NCAA Division III programs including 13 teams currently ranked in the NWCA Top 20. Millikin two victories gave them a top 12 finish in the event.
         Millikin started the day with a 23-18 win over New York University. After the Big Blue dropped the first two matches, junior All-American Chris Williams got Millikin on the board with a 5-1 win over Will Crisco at 141 pounds. Williams entered the day undefeated and ranked number on in the country at 141 pounds. Freshman Bradan Birt tied the match at 8-8 with a 23-7 technical fall upset win over seventh ranked Evan Drill of New York University.
         New York University posted wins at 157 and 165 pounds to pull ahead 15-8. Big Blue junior Austin Hedrick pulled out an important win by fall (0:55) at 174 pounds to pull Millikin to within one at 15-14. New York University led 18-14 heading into the final two matches. Junior Keajion Jennings, who was ranked 10th in the nation at 197 pounds, won 12-7 over Jack La Crote. With New York University forfeiting at 285 pounds, the 197 pound match was a must win bout for the Violets.
         After the win over New York University, Millikin had to immediately return to the mat against a fresh Johnson & Wales team who received a first round bye. The Wildcats entered the tournament ranked second in the country. Millikin lost the match 34-9. Birt, Jake Tisza and Hedrick all posted wins by decision for the Big Blue. Birt posted his second win over a ranked opponent at 149 pounds defeating Joseph Ferinde 11-7. Ferinde is ranked fifth in the country in the 141-pound weight class.
         Competing in its third back-to-back-to back match, the Big Blue defeated Augustana College 29-17. Millikin opened the scoring with Brandon Muselman picking up a win by forfeit at 125 pounds. Birt scored a pin fall win at 149 pound over Daniel Terronez at the 3:18 mark. Birt is now 18-1 on the season. Blake Tisza won at 157 pounds 6-1 over Neil O'Shaughnessy and Jake Tisza won at 165 pounds over Jacob Poole by fall at 3:37. At 174 pounds, Hedrick won over Josh Bush 16-11. After losing his first match of the year against Johnson & Wales, Jennings bounced back to win 18-1 (TF) over Trystyn Schoonover.
         After finally getting a little break between matches, the Big Blue returned to the mat for the fourth time on the day to face #15 Wisconsin-LaCrosse. Millikin used the match to get some fresh wrestlers some action and fell in the match 43-0.

Millikin University 23 New York University 18
                                                                                                                        NYU     MU
125       Jacob Donato (NYU) over Brandon Muselman (Millikin) Dec 3-2                   3          0
133       Austin Day (NYN) over Angel Rios Jr (Millikin) TF 20-4                                5          0
141       Chris Williams (Millikin) over William Crisco (NYU) Dec 5-1 0          3
149       Bradan Birt (Millikin) over Evan Drill (NYU) TF 23-7 0          5
157       Raymond Jazikoff (NYU) over Blake Tisza (Millikin) Maj 9-1   4          0
165       Blaise Benderoth (NYU) over Jake Tisza (Millikin) Dec 9-8 3          0
174       Austin Hedrick (Millikin) over Maykel Dolorit (NYU) Fall 0:55 0 6
184       Jackson Kligerman (NYU) over Evan Patterson (Millikin) Dec 8-6 3          0
197       Keajion Jennings (Millikin) over Jack La Corte (NYU) Dec 12-7 0          3
285       Myron Hamilton (Millikin) over Unknown (NYU) Forfeit 0          6
Dual Meet Score 18         23

Johnson & Wales 34 Millikin University 9
                                                                                                                                    MU       JW
125       Bobby Jordan (Johnson & Wales) over Brandon Muselman (Millikin) Maj 16-4 0          4
133       Jay Albis (Johnson & Wales (RI)) over Angel Rios Jr (Millikin) Fall 4:20 0          6
141       Joao Vicente (Johnson & Wales (RI)) over Chris Williams (Millikin) MFF 0          6
149       Bradan Birt (Millikin) over Joseph Ferinde (Johnson & Wales (RI)) Dec 11-7 3          0
157       Timothy Higginson (Johnson & Wales (RI)) over Blake Tisza (Millikin) Dec 6-1 0          3
165       Jake Tisza (Millikin) over Seon Bowker (Johnson & Wales (RI)) Dec 5-1 3          0
174       Austin Hedrick (Millikin) over Michael Gargano (Johnson & Wales (RI)) Dec 5-3 3          0
184       Khamri Thomas (Johnson & Wales (RI)) over Evan Patterson (Millikin) Fall 1:44 0          6
197       Michael DiNardo (Johnson & Wales (RI)) over Keajion Jennings (Millikin) TF 16-1 0          5
285       Jonah Aurelio (Johnson & Wales (RI)) over Myron Hamilton (Millikin) Dec 3-1 0          3
misconduct 1
Dual Meet Score                                                                                                            9          34

Millikin University 29 Augustana College 17
                                                                                                                                    MIL      AC
125       Brandon Muselman (Millikin) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf 6          0
133       Brendan Gould (Augustana (IL)) over Carlos Garza (Millikin) TF 16-0 0          5
141       Dale Charlier (Augustana (IL)) over Angel Rios Jr (Millikin) Maj 10-1 0          4
149       Bradan Birt (Millikin) over Daniel Terronez (Augustana (IL)) Fall 3:18 6          0
157       Blake Tisza (Millikin) over Neil O`Shaughnessy (Augustana (IL)) Dec 6-1 3          0
165       Jake Tisza (Millikin) over Jacob Poole (Augustana (IL)) Fall 3:37 6          0
174       Austin Hedrick (Millikin) over Josh Bush (Augustana (IL)) Dec 16-11 3          0
184       Christos Giatras (Augustana (IL)) over Evan Patterson (Millikin) TF 22-7 0          5
197       Keajion Jennings (Millikin) over Trystyn Schoonover (Augustana (IL)) TF 18-1 5          0
285       Adarios Jones (Augustana (IL)) over Myron Hamilton (Millikin) Dec 4-2 0          3
Dual Meet Score                                                                                                            29         17

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 43 Millikin University 0
                                                                                                                                    MU       UWL
125       Zach Villarreal (Wis.-La Crosse) over Brandon Muselman (Millikin) Fall 1:32 0          6
133       Sawyer Sarbacker (Wis.-La Crosse) over Carlos Garza (Millikin) MD 11-2 0          4
141       Reid Johnson (Wis.-La Crosse) over Angel Rios, Jr. (Millikin) TF 18-0 0          5
149       Spencer Nevills (Wis.-La Crosse) over Jesse Ellis (Millikin) MD 11-3 0          4
157       Michael Murnane (Wis.-La Crosse) over Noah Justi (Millikin) Dec 5-3 0          3
165       Mitchell Hertel (Wis.-La Crosse) over Jake Tisza (Millikin) Dec 5-3 0          3
174       Sawyer Massie (Wis.-La Crosse) over Austin Hedrick (Millikin) Dec 7-2 0          3
184       Sean O'Neil (Wis.-La Crosse) over Evan Patterson (Millikin) Fall 0:59 0          6
197       Wesley Schultz (Wis.- La Crosse) over Isaiah Herrera (Millikin) Fall 1:43 0          6
285       Konard Ernst (Wis.-La Crosse) over Diata Drayton (Millikin) Dec 6-3 0          3
Dual Meet Score                                                                                                            0          43

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Players Mentioned

Carlos Garza: Sophomore; 125

Myron Hamilton: Senior; 285

Austin Hedrick: Junior; 174

Keajion Jennings: Junior; 197

Noah Justi: Sophomore; 149

Evan Patterson: Sophomore; 184

Blake Tisza: Senior; 157

Jake Tisza: Sophomore; 165

Chris Williams: Junior; 141

Bradan Birt: Freshman; 149

Diata Drayton: Freshman; 285

Jesse Ellis: Freshman; 149

Players Mentioned

Carlos Garza
: Sophomore; 125

Myron Hamilton
: Senior; 285

Austin Hedrick
: Junior; 174

Keajion Jennings
: Junior; 197

Noah Justi
: Sophomore; 149

Evan Patterson
: Sophomore; 184

Blake Tisza
: Senior; 157

Jake Tisza
: Sophomore; 165

Chris Williams
: Junior; 141

Bradan Birt
: Freshman; 149

Diata Drayton
: Freshman; 285

Jesse Ellis
: Freshman; 149