Wrestling 2/10/2022 7:10:00 PM Bryan Marshall-Millikin Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

Millikin Wrestling Wins Third Straight CCIW Title

The Millikin wrestling team won its third straight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Team Championship at the 2022 CCIW Wrestling Championships hosted by Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois on February 10.

Millikin had four individual champions and a total of nine wrestlers earn All-Conference honors finishing in the top three in their weight class. The Big Blue scored 157.5 points breaking its own CCIW record of 153.5 points set last season. North Central College finished second at 143 points.

Junior Tommy Russell gave Millikin its first CCIW Individual Champion going 2-0 at 125 pounds. Russell defeated Julian Valtierrez of North Central by fall at 1:22 in the Championship match. Russell, who entered the tournament ranked 14th in NCAA Division III, improves to 23-3 on the season.

Junior Peter McCusker earned the second CCIW Title of his career winning at 157 pounds. He won all three matches by fall including the Championship match with an upset of ninth ranked Cole Cervantes of North Central at 5:33.

Senior Bradan Birt made history winning his fifth CCIW Championship becoming the first wrestler to accomplish that feat. Birt posted two wins by fall before winning the title match by injury default. Birt is 33-0 on the season and ranked second in NCAA Division III.

Sophomore Dejon Glaster won at 174 pounds upsetting 15th ranked Joey Jens of North Central in the Championship match 3-2. Glaster's four wins on the day improve his record to 25-10 on the season.

Junior Brayan Reyes finished in second place at 285 pounds. Reyes won his first two matches to advance to the title match where he lost 2-1 (TB-2) to Robby Bates of North Central.

Four Millikin wrestlers earned All-Conference with a third place finish. Sophomore Zac Blasioli finished in third place at 133 after going 3-1 on the day. He defeated Trevor Boryla of Augustana 4-2 in the third place match. Blasioli, who entered the day ranked ninth in the latest NWCA national poll, is now 26-5 on the season.

Senior Jordan Carson finished in third place at 149 pounds earning All-Conference honors for the second straight year. He was 3-1 on the day winning the third place match 9-5 over Aleksandar Pejovski of Lakeland College.

Sophomore Micah Downs finished in third at 184 pounds. He had two wins by fall on the day including in the third place match over Peyton Smith of Concordia (Wis.).

Freshman Niles Ager was third at 197 pounds. Ager record two pins on the day including in the third place match over Cameron Mercer of Concordia (Wis.) at 2:30.

Millikin dominated from the start with nine Big Blue wrestlers winning their first match of the tournament. Millikin posted seven falls, one technical fall and one major decision in its nine opening victories. Five Millikin wrestlers advanced to Championship matches and five wrestled in the Third Place match in their weight class.

Millikin Results
125-Tommy Russell (23-3)
First Round-Bye
Semifinals-Russell won over Brendan Johnston-Wheaton 11-3 MD
Championship Match-Russell defeated Julian Valtierrez-NCC by Fall 1:22

133-Zac Blasioli (26-5)
First Round-Blasioli won over Sebastian Rosales-Carthage by Fall 0:41
Semifinals-Blasioli lost to Ethan Harsted-Wheaton 3-2
Consolation Semifinals-Blasioli defeated Justin Hames-Elmhurst Fall 1:25
Third Place Match-Blasioli won over Trevor Boryla-Augustana 4-2

141-DJ Millett (18-14)
First Round-Bye
Quarterfinals-Millett won over Austin Vincent-Concordia (Wis.) by Fall 2:21
Semifinals-Millett lost to Jimmy McAuliffe-Elmhurst by Fall 1:24
Consolation Semifinals-Millett defeated Michael Smith-MSOE 14-2 MD
Third Place Match-Millett lost to Ethan Renager-Wheaton 4-3 SV-1

149-Jordan Carson (19-14)
First Round-Bye
Quarterfinals-Carson won over Josiah Krason-Wheaton 16-0 TF
Semifinals-Carson lost to Lucas Regnier-Concordia (Wis.) 3-1
Consolation Semifinals-Carson defeated Max Sanderfoot-MSOE 13-3 MD
Third Place Match-Carson won over Aleksandar Pejovski-Lakeland 9-5

157-Peter McCusker (21-9)
First Round-McCusker won over Jayson Toellner-Carthage by Fall 1:46
Semifinal-McCusker defeated Jack O`Donnell-Concordia (Wis.) by Fall 4:36
Championship Match-McCusker won over Cole Cervantes-NCC by Fall 5:33

165-Bradan Birt (33-0)
First Round-Birt won over Collin Ruiz-Carthage by Fall 2:26
Semifinals-Birt defeated Jeff Nugent-Elmhurst by Fall 0:53
Championship Match-Birt won over Caele Manley-Wheaton-Injury Default

174-Dejon Glaster (25-10)
First Round-Glaster defeated Jack Patting-Augustana 5-4
Quarterfinals-Glaster won over Tyler Lovejoy-Lakeland 11-10
Semifinals-Glaster won over Stephen Watson-Wheaton by Fall 6:33
Championship Match-Glaster defeated Joey Jens-North Central 3-2

184-Micah Downs (12-7)
First Round-Downs lost to Peyton Smith-Concordia (Wis.) by Fall 2:26
Consolation Semifinals-Downs won over Jacob Kraker-Wheaton 17-0 TF
Third Place Match-Downs defeated Peyton Smith-Concordia (Wis.) by Fall 1:35

197-Niles Ager (24-8)
First Round-Ager won over Cameron Mercer-Concordia (Wis.) by Fall 2:27
Semifinals-Ager lost to Jackson Punzel-Wheaton 13-10
Consolation Semifinals-Ager defeated Clay DeBaillie-Augustana 8-5
Third Place Match-Ager defeated Cameron Mercer-Concordia (Wis.) by Fall 2:30

285-Brayan Reyes (28-6)
First Round-Reyes won over John Karesh-Wheaton by Fall 2:46
Semifinals-Reyes defeated Josh Woodrey-Augustana 3-1
Championships Match-Reyes lost to Robby Bates-North Central 2-1 TB-2

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Players Mentioned

Bradan Birt: Senior; 165/174

Jordan Carson: Senior; 141

Micah Downs: Sophomore; 174/184

Dejon Glaster: Sophomore; 174

Peter McCusker: Junior; 157

DJ Millett: Senior; 133

Brayan Reyes: Junior; 285

Zac Blasioli: Sophomore; 133

Niles Ager: Freshman; 197

Tommy Russell: Junior; 125

Players Mentioned

Bradan Birt
: Senior; 165/174

Jordan Carson
: Senior; 141

Micah Downs
: Sophomore; 174/184

Dejon Glaster
: Sophomore; 174

Peter McCusker
: Junior; 157

DJ Millett
: Senior; 133

Brayan Reyes
: Junior; 285

Zac Blasioli
: Sophomore; 133

Niles Ager
: Freshman; 197

Tommy Russell
: Junior; 125