Wrestling 10/30/2025 10:12:00 AM

Big Blue Wrestling Ready to Open Season

Millikin Director of Wrestling Ryan Birt has the 2025-26 Big Blue team ready for another competitive season. After finishing with a dual record of 14-4 last season, Millikin is looking to extend its streak of finishing in the top two in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) for the ninth straight year.

While several new faces will see time on the varsity mat this season, the Big Blue do have some successful returners back in 2025-26 led by seniors Chase Mirelez and Leno Campbell.

Mirelez was the CCIW Champion at 149 pounds last season finishing with a 28-10 overall record. Campbell went 22-13 last season and was an NCAA Division III Championships qualifier. Campbell will miss some time early in the season recovering from an injury.

Additional senior contributions should come from Joey Jens and Sabri Sino. Jens, who was 27-10 last season, is ranked 13th in the country at 165 pounds in the preseason National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Individual Rankings. Sino was 22-16 last season. Senior Mason Clem is expected to return for the Big Blue in January after going 16-11 last season at 197 pounds.

Juniors Pierson Wilkerson (11-7) and Charlie Armstrong (5-3) are expected to get action
at 125 and 133 pounds. Junior Michael Hutchison is back after going 5-5 last season.

Newcomers getting varsity mat time in the early part of the season include transfer sophomore Kody Marscher at 184 pounds and first-year wrestlers Nathan Barbee (141), Mateo Casillas (197) and Kaden Tidwell (285).

The Big Blue open the season on November 1 at 5 p.m. in the Griswold Center against Westminster College. The match follows the Millikin home football game that starts at 1 p.m.

The Millikin Open takes place on November 8 in the Decatur Indoor Sports Center starting at 9:30 a.m.

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Players Mentioned

Charlie Armstrong: Junior; 133

Leno Campbell: Senior; 285

Mason Clem: Senior; 184

Michael Hutchison: Junior; 157/165

Joey Jens: Senior; 165/174

Chase Mirelez: Senior; 157

Sabri Sino: Senior; 149

Pierson Wilkerson: Junior; 125

Nathan Barbee: Freshman; 141

Mateo Casillas: Freshman; 197

Kaden Tidwell: Freshman; 285

Players Mentioned

Charlie Armstrong
: Junior; 133

Leno Campbell
: Senior; 285

Mason Clem
: Senior; 184

Michael Hutchison
: Junior; 157/165

Joey Jens
: Senior; 165/174

Chase Mirelez
: Senior; 157

Sabri Sino
: Senior; 149

Pierson Wilkerson
: Junior; 125

Nathan Barbee
: Freshman; 141

Mateo Casillas
: Freshman; 197

Kaden Tidwell
: Freshman; 285