Indianapolis, In. - Mercyhurst wrestling wrapped up their final competition in 2023 Sunday afternoon, finishing their time in the Midwest Classic. The Lakers competed in three bouts on the day with both Jake Niffenegger and Dillon Walker returning to the mats. After dropping his first matchup in the semifinals of the champions bracket, Walker came back to claim fifth place in the event. 

How it Happened

Walker started off day two with Lander's David Hunsberger, the second ranked wrestler at 165 per the NWCA in the semifinals of the champions bracket. Hunsberger ended up getting the better of that matchup, coming away with a hard-fought 9-0 major decision to send Walker to the consolation bracket. The junior rebounded from his first loss of the competition going against Nicholas Coreno of Gannon and coming away with a victory via a decision, 10-3, to help him move to 15-1 on the season.

Niffenegger found himself in the consolation bracket on day two after a loss on day one in his second bout of the event. In his lone matchup on day two, the native of Cincinnati, Oh. was unable to get the job done in his contest with Grayston DiBlasi of the Colorado School of Mines with the Oredigger taking the win via a pinfall.

Next Event

Mercyhurst now sits their sights on Findlay in their next contest with the two teams set to meet on Friday, January 12th, in a 7:00 p.m. showdown. The Lakers will hit the road for that one before going back out on the road the following weekend when they meet Millersville on January 19th followed by Shippensburg the following day.