Three Millikin Wrestlers Advance to NCAA Championships

Millikin University had three wrestlers advance to the 2022 NCAA Division III Championships at the NCAA Lower Midwest Regional held February 25-26 at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, Iowa. The Big Blue finished in fifth place in the team standings.

Senior Bradan Birt, junior Tommy Russell and junior Brayan Reyes all earned their spot at the National Championships with a top three finish in the regional.

Birt dominated the 165 pound weight class winning the Championship match by fall over Gabe Fiser of Loras. Birt had three wins by fall and one technical fall victory. Birt, who is ranked second in the latest NWCA rankings, improves to 37-0 on the season. Birt was named the Wrestler of the Lower Midwest Region.

Russell finished third at 125 pounds going 5-1 in the regional. Russell lost his quarterfinal match but rallied to win four straight matches to advance. Russell defeated Jared Hensley of Loras College in the Third Place match 3-2. Russell is 28-4 on the season.

Reyes finished third at 285 pounds winning his final match 2-1 with advantage time deciding the contest. Reyes was 4-1 in the tournament to improve to 32-7 on the season.

Zac Blasioli finished in fifth place at 133 pounds. He won the fifth place match 7-5 by sudden victory over Aiden Evans of Loras. Peter McCusker finished in fifth place at 157 pounds. McCusker won the fifth place match by fall. Micah Downs went 4-2 at 184 pounds to claim fifth place.

Millikin received the Assistant\Staff of the Year Award.

Millikin Results
125-Tommy Russell (28-4)
Opening Round-Russell won over Cristian Chavez-Luther 7-4
Quarterfinals- Russell lost to Shandon Akeo-Central 11-5
Consolation Round 2–Russell defeated Julian Valtierrez–North Central College 7-5
Consolation Round 3-Russell won over Dylan McChesney-Simpson 6-2
Consolation Semifinal-Russell defeated Alex Friddle-Coe College 5-3
Third Place Match-Russell wins over Jared Hensley-Loras 3-2

133-Zac Blasioli (29-7)
Opening Round-Blasioli defeated Joe Weaver-Simpson 18-1 TF
Quarterfinals-Blasioli won over Aiden Evans-Loras 4-1
Semifinals-Blasioli lost to Robbie Precin-North Central College 8-0 MD
Consolation Semifinal-Blasioli lost to Trevor Boryla-Augustana 8-7 TB-1
Fifth Place-Blasioli defeated Aiden Evans-Loras 7-5 SV-1

141-D.J. Millett (20-16)
Opening Round-Millett lost to Javen Estrada-North Central by Fall 1:43
Consolation Round-Millett defeated Kameron Hanel-Augustana 11-6
Consolation Round-Millikin defeated Keegan Casey-Nebraska Wesleyan 12-0 MD
Consolation Round 2–Millett lost to Zach Stewart–Simpson 4-2

149-Jordan Carson (22-16)
Opening Round-Carson won over Joe Beck-Fontbonne by Fall 4:56
Quarterfinals- Carson lost to Kristian Rumph-Wartburg by Fall 2:23
Consolation Round 2–Carson defeated David Burgess-Huntingdon 11-3 MD
Consolation Round 3-Carson lost to Riley Wright-Coe 7-2
Seventh Place Match-Carson defeated Devinaire Hayes-University of Dubuque 5-2

157-Peter McCusker (26-11)
Wrestle-In Round-McCusker defeated Nicholas Hammond-Schreiner-Fall 3:00
First Round-McCusker won over Jake Larson-Augustana by Fall 1:43
Quarterfinals-McCusker lost to Cole Cervantes-North Central 7-1
Consolation Round 2-McCusker defeated Luke Condy-Central 12-3 MD
Consolation Round 3-McCusker won over Braeden Hendel-Luther by Fall 5:26
Consolation Semifinal-McCusker lost to Zarick Anderson-University of Dubuque 8-1
Fifth Place Match-McCusker defeated Collin Quandt-Nebraska Wesleyan by Fall 1:26

165-Bradan Birt (37-0)
Opening Round-Birt defeated Colby Tool-Central by Fall 1:34
Quarterfinals-Birt won over Payton Geigner-North Central 17-0 TF
Semifinals-Birt defeats Will Esmoil-Coe College by Fall 1:23
Championship Match-Birt wins over Gabe Fiser-Loras by Fall 2:19

174-Dejon Glaster (28-12)
Opening Round-Glaster won over Caleb Rojas-Buena Vista by Fall 1:13
Quarterfinals-Glaster lost to Joey Jens-North Central 2-1 TB-1
Consolation Round 2-Glaster defeated Luis Cruces–Luther 5-1
Consolation Round 3-Glaster lost to John Ward-University of the Ozarks 8-7
Seventh Place Match-Glaster defeated Jacob Sherzer-Cornell by Fall 6:52

184-Micah Downs (16-9)
Opening Round – Downs won over Shane Mathias-Simpson 11-4
Quarterfinals-Downs lost to Ryan Schott-Coe College by Fall 2:58
Consolation Round 2-Downs defeated Colin Honderd–Cornell by Fall 6:03
Consolation Round 3-Downs defeated Isaiah Mitchell-Luther 5-2
Consolation Semifinal-Downs lost to Peyton Hammerich-Central 8-7
Fifth Place Match-Downs won over Pilo Perez-Dubuque by Fall 2:29

197-Niles Ager (24-10)
Opening Round–Ager lost to Treyton Steffen-Cornell by Fall 4:05
Consolation Round 1–Ager lost to Cruz Partain–University of the Ozarks 11-6

285-Brayan Reyes (32-7)
Opening Round–Reyes won over Slade Sifuentes-Loras 4-3 TB-1
Quarterfinals–Reyes defeated Cruz Partain–University of Dubuque by Injury Default
Semifinals-Reyes lost to Robby Bates–North Central College 9-1 MD
Consolation Semifinal-Reyes won over Logan Kennedy Luther 4-3
Third Place Match-Reyes defeated Sam Zook-Central 2-1

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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

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

Brayan Reyes
: Junior; 285

Zac Blasioli
: Sophomore; 133

Niles Ager
: Freshman; 197

Tommy Russell
: Junior; 125