Three Trojans claim titles at Under Armour Invite
PELLA - The seventh-ranked NIACC wrestling team opened the 2022 portion of the 2021-22 season by crowning three champions Saturday at the Central College Under Armour Invitational.
Claiming titles for the Trojans were Christian Minto (165), Chase McCleish (184) and Jose Valdez (197).
Minto, the top-ranked NJCAA Division I 165-pounder, claimed the 165-pound title with a narrow 6-5 victory over Ellsworth's eighth-ranked Khaitov Mirzo. Minto (6-0) advanced to the finals with three straight falls.
McCleish, who is ranked eighth at 184 pounds, took an 8-4 decision from Briar Cliff's Jeremiah Glise in the 184-pound championship match. McCleish (11-2) moved to the finals with three straight falls.
It was the second tournament title for McCleish in the 2021-22 season. McCleish also claimed the title in the freshman/sophomore division at the Simpson College Luther Hill Invite on Nov. 6.
Valdez (6-0) downed Central's Gage Linahon 5-3 in the 197-pound title match. Valdez, who is ranked second, moved to the finals with a fall, major decision and decision.
In the 133-pound title match, Morningside's Taylor Vasquez stopped NIACC's ninth-ranked Clarence Lee-Green by major decision, 17-8.
In the 149-pound title match, Central's Robert Areyano topped NIACC's second-ranked Deville Dentis, 14-7.
In the 174-pound title match, Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Jared Stricker pinned NIACC's Ein Carlos in 3:45.
In the 125-pound consolation finals, NIACC's Cruz Aguilar edged Minnesota State's Tanner Cook, 2-1.
In the 141-pound consolation finals, NIACC's Ryker Pentz pinned Travis Hodges (unattached, Iowa Wesleyan) in 3:16.
In the 174-pound consolation finals, NIACC's Cale Luthens (N) nipped Briar Cliff's Christian Balmer, 3-2.
In the 285-pound consolation finals, NIACC's Jaylin Smith pinned the Trojans' Jacob Leohr in 1:03.
SATURDAY'S RESULTS
GOLD DIVISION
PRELIMINARY ROUND
184
Chase McCleish (NIACC) pinned Shane Mathias (Simpson), 1:00.
FIRST ROUND
125
Dylan McChesney (Simpson) pinned Cruz Aguilar (NIACC), 3:52.
133
Clarence Lee-Green (NIACC) dec. Joe Weaver (Simpson), 5-3.
141
Axel Hernandez (Buena Vista) dec. Ryker Pentz (NIACC), 8-1.
149
Deville Dentis (NIACC) pinned Mahlik Ball (Waldorf), 4:21; Brody Hawtrey (NIACC) pinned Francisco Mendez (unattached, Iowa Wesleyan), 4:42.
157
Brent Ward (Iowa Wesleyan) pinned Clay Schemmel (NIACC), 1:46; Josh Barretta (NIACC) major dec. Garrett Heater (Central), 11-0; Logan Thorsten (St. John's, Minn.) pinned Roush Jaeger (NIACC), 6:19.
165
Christian Minto (NIACC) pinned Nathan Atwood (Briar Cliff), 1:04; Ryan Van Donselaar (NIACC) major dec. Jesus Diaz (Iowa Wesleyan), 11-2.
174
Ein Carlos (NIACC) pinned Caelen Shannon (Iowa Wesleyan), 6:15; Jared Stricker (Iowa Wesleyan) major dec. Cale Luthens (NIACC), 12-0.
184
McCleish (NIACC) pinned Brodie Toth (Central), 1:58.
197
Jose Valdez (NIACC) pinned Elias Cordero (Iowa Wesleyan), 1:58.
285
Colton Kinnison (Simpson) dec. Jaylin Smith (NIACC), 5-2; Owen Miller (Albion) pinned Jacob Leohr (NIACC), 1:51.
CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINALS
133
Lee-Green (N) pinned Dawson Husted (Central), 3:26.
149
Robert Areyano (Central) pinned Hawtrey (N), 1:09; Dentis (N) major dec. Andrew Shea (Briar Cliff), 9-1.
157
Barretta (N) dec. Felix Saunders (Briar Cliff), 7-6.
165
Minto (N) pinned Brett Tryon (Morningside), 2:40; Khaitov Mirzo (Ellsworth) tech. fall Van Donselaar, 21-2.
174
Carlos (N) dec. Makail Stanley (William Penn), 14-7.
197
Valdez (N) major dec. Thomas Johnson (unattached, Minnesota State), 11-3.
CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS
133
Lee-Green (N) dec. Cael Cox (Central), 9-4.
149
Dentis (N) dec. John Diener (Morningside), 9-7.
157
Drake Hayward (unattached, Minnesota State) pinned Barretta (N), 3:28.
165
Minto (N) pinned Tristan Massie (Wisconsin-Eau Claire), 4:43.
174
Carlos (N) pinned Trevor Turriff (Minnesota State), 4:35.
184
McCleish (N) pinned Shane Gibson (Minnesota State), 2:57.
197
Valdez (N) dec. Matthew Montgomery (Briar Cliff), 4-0.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
133
Taylor Vasquez (Morningside) major dec. Lee-Green (N), 17-8.
149
Robert Areyano (Central) dec. Dentis (N), 14-7.
165
Minto (N) dec. Khaitov Mirzo (Ellsworth), 6-5.
174
Jared Stricker (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) pinned Carlos (N), 3:45.
184
McCleish (N) dec. Jeremiah Glise (Briar Cliff), 8-4.y
197
Valdez (N) dec. Gage Linahon (Central), 5-3.
FIRST-ROUND CONSOLATION
141
Pentz (N) major dec. Hector Diaz (William Penn), 11-2.
157
Jaeger (N) pinned Luke Hardy (Briar Cliff), 3:41; Steven Stewes (William Penn) tech. fall Schemmel (N), 16-0.
174
Luthens (N) tech. fall Christian Martinez (Waldorf), 16-0.
SECOND-ROUND CONSOLATION
125
Aguilar (N) pinned Nadhelo Charles-Pierre (unattached, William Penn), 6:00.
141
Pentz (N) major dec. Luke Krier (Wisconsin-Eau Claire), 17-9.
149
Ben Peters (Briar Cliff) tech. fall Hawtrey (N), 17-2.
165
Garret Bruce (Buena Vista) pinned Van Donselaar (N), 2:09.
174
Luthens (N) dec. Brody Kacmarynski (Morningside), 11-4.
285
Smith (N) pinned Larry Everfield (Ellsworth), 4:45; Leohr (N) major dec. Brennan Davis (Ellsworth), 12-3.
THIRD-PLACE MATCHES
157
Brent Ward (Iowa Wesleyan) dec. Barretta (N), 15-7.
CONSOLATION FINALS
125
Aguilar (N) dec. Tanner Cook (Minnesota State), 2-1.
141
Pentz (N) pinned Travis Hodges (unattached, Iowa Wesleyan), 3:16.
157
Jacob Hanssen (Buena Vista) major dec. Jaeger (N), 12-0.
174
Luthens (N) dec. Christian Balmer (Briar Cliff), 3-2.
285
Jaylin Smith (N) pinned Jacob Leohr (N), 1:03.
SILVER DIVISION
FIRST ROUND
174
Andrew Hamilton (St. John's, Minn.) pinned Nick Billings (NIACC), 2:29.
FIRST ROUND CONSOLATION
Caleb Watson (Morningside) won by disqualification over Billings (N).
