INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 3-ranked University of Indianapolis wrestling team will live to fight another day at the 44th Annual Midwest Classic. After day one of competition across eights mats spanning the Ruth Lilly Fitness Center and Nicoson Hall, the field has been reduced from 468 wrestlers to just 120. Among those are
Blake Mulkey (141),
Jackson Hoover (149),
Owen Zablocki (165),
Trey Sizemore (174),
Aidan Petersen (184) and
Derek Blubaugh (197).
Blubaugh remains the only one still in the champ bracket, going 4-0 on day one on the way to his semifinal's appearance.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Blubaugh started his day out hot, grabbing a major decision over Brayden Dillow of Central Missouri. The redshirt junior kept his hot streak going with a pair of falls, both versus GLVC opponents. First was over Maxim Ryner of Quincy in 2:16, the second was over Cameron Lopez of Upper Iowa in 2:08. Finally, to cap off his perfect day one, Blubaugh outlasted Grand Valley's Wyatt Miller, winning via riding time for a 2-1 decision.
At 141, Mulkey started his day with a bye, taking full advantage of the extra rest, starting with an 8-4 decision and then a pin in his first two matches at the Midwest Classic. Matched up with No. 3 Dylan Lucas of Central Oklahoma, Mulkey would fall victim to an overtime takedown, ending his run on the winner's side of the bracket.
Hoover, much like Mulkey, also received a bye to start his day at 149. It would be Junior Downing of No. 1-ranked Lander as the first test for Hoover, one he passed majorly, winning 17-4. He followed that up with another foe from a top-five squad, downing Dylan Brown of No. 4 Central Oklahoma 7-0. But it would be the No. 7-ranked Jacob Ealy of Pitt-Johnstown to end his run, winning 13-1 over Hoover.
Zablocki, coming in as the No. 11-ranked 165-pound wrestler, picked up a fall over Montevallo's Derek Hussey in the second round, leading him to a familiar opponent in the third round. Lined up against Cole Ritter of Maryville, Zablocki simply dominated, grabbing a major victory 20-11. Zablocki kept his fight going into the night in the quarterfinals but fell just a takedown short of Nicholas Coreno of Gannon, sending him to the consolation bracket.
Sizemore, a DI-transfer from Illinois, looked to make a splash at the Midwest Classic and he did that, picking up a pin and two majors within his first three matches at the annual tournament. However, a controversial call in the quarterfinals ended his run at the 174-title.
At the 184-pound class, Petersen, spotting a new No. 12 rankings, started his day with a major over Drury's Jeremiah Halter in the second round. Another decision (9-5) lifted Petersen to the quarterfinals, where some early aggression by the No. 3-ranked Matt Weinberg of Kutztown resulted in a pin over Petersen.
Nathan Smith, a true freshman, was ever so close to advancing to day two of competition. After dropping his first match of the day at 125, Smith battled through five rounds of consolation matches, picking up two tech falls along the way. But to end his run was Jaden Verhagen of UMary who pinned Smith in 3:15.
Battling at 157,
Nathan Conley started his day out with a bye, before suffering a defeat in the second round. He bounced back with a tech fall in the consolation round two, but a 9-6 decision the next round ended his run at the yearly tournament.
Noah Cantu, wrestling at 133, picked up an early win in the first round. But a tightly fought match in the second round caused an injury to Cantu, ending his tournament.
Jay Thompson, filling in for No. 1-ranked
Cale Gray, battled but bowed out after two matches of action.
UP NEXT
Champions will be crowned in Nicoson Hall tomorrow for the 44th Midwest Classic. Action is set to kick off at 10 a.m.
