FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The No. 2-ranked Indiana Tech wrestling team earned their best finish ever at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Multi-Divisional Duals "Mat Mayhem" presented by the United States Marine Corps in honor of Cliff Kleen at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Saturday with a runner-up finish in the NAIA Division, defeating No. 3 Missouri Valley, 24-17 in the semifinals before falling to No. 1 Grand View, 33-15.
The Warriors got off to a 16-0 start thanks to falls from
Mitch Pawlak and
Travis Barroquillo at 125 and 133 pounds, while Matt Miller earned a 10-2 major decision at 141.
The Vikings would get victories at 149 and 157 to cut the Tech lead to 16-7, but
John Weldon would pick up a technical fall at 165 while
LJ Grayson would get a 12-9 decision at 184 to put the Orange and Black up 24-10.
Missouri Valley would get close with victories at 197 and 285, but the Warriors would hang on for the 24-17 win to advance to the championship around against five-time defending duals champion, as well as four-time NAIA National Champion, Grand View.
Pawlak would give the Warriors a 3-0 led with a 9-4 decision over sixth ranked Tristan Bundy. Barroquillo would lose his first match of the weekend to third ranked Jacob Colon, falling at 5:37. Miller gave Tech a boost by picking up a fall at 1:28 against second ranked Walker Marshall for a 9-6 lead.
The number one team in the nation would respond with three straight wins to take 19-9 lead after six bouts.
Tyler Goldman would earn a huge upset at 174 pounds however, with a fall over seventh ranked Dylan Blackford at 2:45 to cut the deficit to 19-15 with three matches to go.
Grayson would lose his match of the tournament however, to top-ranked Michael Pixley in a 7-1 decision, and the Vikings would win the final two matches to take home the championship, 33-15.
Tech returns to the mats next weekend when they head out to Marshall, Missouri for the Missouri Valley College Invitational. Action will take place starting at 6 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday from the Burns Athletic Complex.
