INDIANAPOLIS, Ind – Four Mercyhurst wrestlers were back in action during the second day of the 42nd Midwest Classic hosted by the University of Indianapolis. Three of the four Lakers matsmen were able to secure spots on the podium in their respective weight brackets.
Dillon Walker lost his opening match on Sunday resulting in his exit of the 174 consolation bracket. The freshman Walker put up a good fight against No. 11 Max Bruss from the University of Mary, however he ultimately fell in a 7-4 decision.
Redshirt junior
Eric Bartos took the eighth place position on the podium at 133, Bartos won his fifth straight bout in the consolation bracket dating back to yesterday before bowing out to No. 3 nationally ranked Patrick Allis via a 7-1 decision. A medical forfeit in the seventh place match resulted in Bartos being positioned in the eight spot on the podium.
Luke McGonigal went 2-1 on his way to the fifth place bout at 184. The Frenchville, Pennsylvania native won his first match of the day over Elijah Mahan by major decision, 16-4. He followed up by earning a 4-2 decision victory over No.4 in the nation, Anderson Salisbury from Colorado School of Mines. In his fifth place match, McGonigal defeated Reece Woracheck via a 2-1 decision to take the fifth place position on the podium at 184.
Jacob Robb was the lone Mercyhurst wrestler still alive in a championship bracket coming into the second day of competition, the graduate student won his semifinal bout over No. 10 AJ Cooper by major decision, 12-4. The win would put Robb in the championship match at 285 against No. 12 Ian Kuehl of McKendree. In that championship match Robb would fall, putting him in the second spot on the podium.
As a team, the Lakers finished with 58.5 total team points. That number was good enough to put them in a tie for 12th place out of 46 teams that attended the Midwest Classic.
Mercyhurst will take an extended break for the holiday season before getting back to the mats on January 6th and 7th in Louisville, Kentucky at the NWCA National Duals.
