Millikin Wins First Ever CCIW Wrestling Championship

          The Millikin wrestling team won the 2020 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Wrestling Championships team title on February 13 at the Griswold Center. It was the first ever team title in Big Blue wrestling history.
          Millikin edged North Central College 135-134 with the championship not being decided until the third place match at 285 won by Millikin's Frank Tomaskovic. Millikin Head Coach Ryan Birt was named the CCIW Coach of the Year.
          Millikin won four individual titles starting with senior Tristan Birt at 157 and junior Bradan Birt at 165 pounds. It was the second title for Tristan Birt who won at 149 in 2019 and the third straight title for Bradan Birt. Bradan Birt was named the CCIW's Most Outstanding Wrestler. Millikin junior Taylor McGiffen at 174 and Logan Hagerbaumer at 197 also claimed CCIW Individual titles.
          Tristan Birt won at 157 with a 7-3 decision over Danny Terronez of Augustana in the Championship match. After an opening round bye, Tristan Birt defeated Jack Rathbun of MSOE in the semifinals by fall at 2:00.
          Bradan Birt opened the competition with a pin of Stephen Watson of Wheaton College at 1:19. Bradan Birt then won his semifinal match by technical fall 19-4 over AJ Geraci of Augustana. Bradan Birt won the Championship match by fall in just 19 seconds over Mike Huck of Elmhurst. Bradan Birt is now 32-1 on the season and ranked fifth in the nation at 165 pounds.
          McGiffen made quick work of his Championship opponent with a pin of Drew Matticks of MSOE in 59 seconds. McGiffen opened with a 22-7 technical fall win and advanced to the championship match with a 6-5 decision. McGiffen is now 15-4 overall.
          Hagerbaumer scored two pins and one technical fall in route to the 197 title. He opened with a 20-2 win over Evan Carter and won his semifinal match by fall at 1:37.
Hagerbaumer won the Championship match by fall at 1:04 over Ben Bergen of North Central. Hagerbaumer is now 18-5.
          Sophomore Ren Dazey went 2-1 on the day to finish in second place at 133 pounds.
          Tomaskovic won the third place match at 285 with an 8-1 decision over Isiah Ziegler of North Central. It was Tomaskovic's second win of the event over Ziegler.
          Freshman Zach Blasioli earned All-Conference honors with a third place finish were at 125 pounds.

Final Brackets
Team Scores

Millikin Results
125
Zac Blasioli (15-4) placed 3rd and scored 13.5 team points.
Quarterfinal - Zac Blasioli (Millikin) won by major decision over Anthony Zamora (Wheaton ) 7-13 (MD 11-2)
Semifinal - Marco Padilla (Concordia) won in sudden victory - 1 over Zac Blasioli (Millikin) (SV-1 5-3)
Cons. Semi - Zac Blasioli (Millikin) won by fall over Eric English (Elmhurst) (Fall 4:31)
3rd Place Match - Zac Blasioli (Millikin) won by decision over Anthony Zamora (Wheaton) (Dec 4-1)

133
Ren Dazey placed 2nd and scored 13.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Ren Dazey (Millikin) won by major decision over Giovany Armira (Wheaton ) (MD 11-0)
Semifinal - Ren Dazey (Millikin) won by decision over Andre Neal (Elmhurst) (Dec 8-2)
1st Place Match - Ian Mullen (North Central) won by tech fall over Ren Dazey (Millikin) 3 (TF-1.5 6:29 (22-7))

141
Wilyonde Bell placed 6th and scored 4.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Ethan Harsted (Wheaton ) won by fall over Wilyonde Bell (Millikin) (Fall 1:12)
Cons. Round 1 - Wilyonde Bell (Millikin) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Semi - Nathaniel Schroeter (Lakeland) won by decision over Wilyonde Bell (Millikin) (Dec 17-12)
5th Place Match - Alex Cruz (Augustana) won by fall over Wilyonde Bell (Millikin) (Fall 1:39)

149
Peter McCusker placed 4th and scored 10.5 team points.
Quarterfinal - Peter McCusker (Millikin) won by decision over Quinn Hoopman (Concordia) (Dec 8-2)
Semifinal - Jimmy McAuliffe (Elmhurst) won by major decision over Peter McCusker (Millikin) (MD 9-1)
Cons. Semi - Peter McCusker (Millikin) won by fall over Andrew Harrell (Wheaton ) (Fall 4:21)
3rd Place Match - Freddy Terranova (Augustana) won by major decision over Peter McCusker (Millikin) (MD 14-5)

157
Tristan Birt placed 1st and scored 16.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Tristan Birt (Millikin) received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal - Tristan Birt (Millikin) won by fall over Jack Rathbun (MSOE) (Fall 2:00)
1st Place Match - Tristan Birt (Millikin) won by decision over Danny Terronez (Augustana) (Dec 7-3)

165
Bradan Birt placed 1st and scored 19.5 team points.
Quarterfinal - Bradan Birt (Millikin) won by fall over Stephen Watson (Wheaton ) (Fall 1:19)
Semifinal - Bradan Birt (Millikin) won by tech fall over AJ Geraci (Augustana) (TF-1.5 6:25 (19-4))
1st Place Match - Bradan Birt (Millikin) won by fall over Mike Huck (Elmhurst) (Fall 0:19)

174
Taylor McGiffen placed 1st and scored 17.5 team points.
Quarterfinal - Taylor McGiffen (Millikin) won by tech fall over Josh Bush (Augustana) (TF-1.5 6:51 (22-7))
Semifinal - Taylor McGiffen (Millikin) won by decision over Nevin Brittain (Elmhurst) (Dec 6-5)
1st Place Match - Taylor McGiffen (Millikin) won by fall over Drew Matticks (MSOE) (Fall 0:59)

184
Arnold Fox placed 4th and scored 10.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Helton Vanderbush (MSOE) won by decision over Arnold Fox (Millikin) (Dec 5-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Arnold Fox (Millikin) won by fall over Charles Hindley (Concordia) (Fall 0:41)
Cons. Semi - Arnold Fox (Millikin) won by decision over Dominic Gallo (Elmhurst) (Dec 3-1)
3rd Place Match - Helton Vanderbush (MSOE) won by decision over Arnold Fox (Millikin) (Dec 8-3)

197
Logan Hagerbaumer placed 1st and scored 19.5 team points.
Quarterfinal - Logan Hagerbaumer (Millikin) won by tech fall over Evan Carter (MSOE) (TF-1.5 5:49 (20-2))
Semifinal - Logan Hagerbaumer (Millikin) won by fall over Victor Vargas (Elmhurst) (Fall 1:37)
1st Place Match - Logan Hagerbaumer (Millikin) won by fall over Ben Bergen (North Central) (Fall 1:04)

285
Frank Tomaskovic placed 3rd and scored 11.5 team points.
Quarterfinal - Frank Tomaskovic (Millikin) won by decision over Isiah Ziegler (North Central) (Dec 4-2)
Semifinal - Garret Hunt (Lakeland) won by fall over Frank Tomaskovic (Millikin) (Fall 2:32)
Cons. Semi - Frank Tomaskovic (Millikin) won by major decision over Daniel Skold (Augustana) (MD 10-0)
3rd Place Match - Frank Tomaskovic (Millikin) won by decision over Isiah Ziegler (North Central) (Dec 8-1)

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Players Mentioned

Wilyonde Bell: Senior; 141

Bradan Birt: Junior; 165

Tristan Birt: Junior; 149

Ren Dazey: Sophomore; 133

Frank Tomaskovic: Senior; 285

Zac Blasioli: Freshman; 125

Logan Hagerbaumer: Junior; 197

Peter McCusker: Freshman; 149

Taylor McGiffen: Junior; 184

Players Mentioned

Wilyonde Bell
: Senior; 141

Bradan Birt
: Junior; 165

Tristan Birt
: Junior; 149

Ren Dazey
: Sophomore; 133

Frank Tomaskovic
: Senior; 285

Zac Blasioli
: Freshman; 125

Logan Hagerbaumer
: Junior; 197

Peter McCusker
: Freshman; 149

Taylor McGiffen
: Junior; 184