Mankato, Minn. – Seven Minnesota State wrestlers came away with first place finishes this weekend at the Central Under Armour Invitational in Pella, Iowa, with four more placings in the top-six.
Claiming first place this weekend were sophomore Max Schwabe, sophomore Drake Hayward, freshman Kole Marko, junior Mike Smith, sophomore Nic Leo, senior Darrell Mason, and freshman Jett Thoreson.
Schwabe, at 141 lb., went 4-0 and started the championship round for Minnesota State with an impressive overtime finish against Pierre Baldwin of Central Community College (2-1). Shortly after, Hayward, at 157 lb., had a major decision finish against Brandon Bowles of Muhlenberg College (14-2). Hayward went 3-0 on the day with a first-round bye. Right behind Hayward came Marko, a 165 lb. senior who went 4-0 at the invite. Marko also fashioned a major decision win in the final round over Caleb Connor of Morningside College (15-3). Smith was next at 174 lb. and scored a fall at 2:50 of the first period over Anson Dewar of Muhlenberg College. Smith went 4-0 on the day with three falls, two in the first period and one in the second period, along with a decision win to come out on top. Leo took the next 1st place finish in a decision win over Christian Wilson of Central Community College. Leo wrestled at 184 lb. and went undefeated with a 4-0 record at the invite. With no surprise, Mason claimed a first place finish at his first tournament of the season. With a 3-2 decision win over Owen Miller from Albion College, Mason finished with a 4-0 record at 285lb. In the silver bracket, Thoreson got a fall in the third period at 6:40 to win over Invi Bella of Graceland University. Thoreson wrestled at 157 lb. and went 4-0 with three falls and a medical forfeit.
Placing third at the Central Invite were sophomore Thomas Johnson, senior Max Villnow, and freshman Kain Sanders. Johnson had a fast fall in the first period at 0:56 to claim third place over Seth Butler of Wartburg College. The sophomore went 3-1 at 197 lb. and had two falls in the first period in two of his matches. Villnow, at 285 lb., followed in Schwabe’s steps with a hard-fought overtime finish against Miles Berg of Central Community College (3-1). Going 3-1 on the day, Villnow had two decision wins to get him into the third-place match. Wrestling in the Silver Bracket, Sanders came away with a third-place finish through a decision win against Rudy Osborne of Wartburg College (10-3). Sanders was 2-1 for the day with a tech fall win to boost him into the third-place match in the 149 lb. division.
Senior Dylan Butts took home a sixth-place finish at the Central Invite in the 197 lb. bracket. Going 2-2 for the day, Butts had a quick fall in the second period of his first match and had a decision win later on to get into a placing match. Freshman Caleb Meunier also placed first in the 145 lb. consolation bracket. Meunier went 3-1 with a decision win to take first in the consolation match, having two first-period falls in previous matches. Sophomore Joshua Piechowski also wrestled in the 197 lb. bracket, finishing the day 1-2 with a 7-5 decision win.
The Mavericks start their conference dual schedule at home in Mankato, Minn., on Thursday against the University of Mary. The dual is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m., at Taylor Center.
Central Under Armour Invitational Results
Central Under Armour Invitational Results of Minnesota State – Gold Bracket
Max Schwabe (141) – 1st Place
Champ. Round 1 – Max Schwabe (Minnesota State) won by fall over Christian Keller (Nebraska Wesleyan) Fall 1:27
Quarterfinal – Max Schwabe (Minnesota State) won by decision over Jayden Bustillos (Schreiner) Dec 10-3
Semifinal – Max Schwabe (Minnesota State) won by decision over Ethan Krey (Briar Cliff) Dec 3-1
1st Place Match – Max Schwabe (Minnesota State) won in overtime over Pierre Baldwin (Central) OT 2-1
Caleb Meunier (145) – Consolation 1st Place
Champ. Round 1 – Zach Stewart (Simpson) won by decision over Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) Dec 8-6
Cons. Round 1 – Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) won by fall over Jordan Bendorf (Central) Fall 2:03
Cons. Round 2 – Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) won by fall over Tyler Fouts (Briar Cliff) Fall 1:54
Consolation 1st – Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) won by decision over Reese Osborne (Wartburg) Dec 14-7
Drake Hayward (157) – 1st Place
Champ. Round 1 – Drake Hayward (Minnesota State) received a bye () Bye
Quarterfinal – Drake Hayward (Minnesota State) won by decision over Thomas Potter (Albion) Dec 7-2
Semifinal – Drake Hayward (Minnesota State) won by fall over Riley McHale (Muhlenberg) Fall 2:45
1st Place Match – Drake Hayward (Minnesota State) won by major decision over Brandon Bowles (Muhlenberg) Maj 14-2
Kole Marko (165) – 1st Place
Champ. Round 1 – Kole Marko (Minnesota State) won by decision over Garrett Arment (Briar Cliff) Dec 9-2
Quarterfinal – Kole Marko (Minnesota State) won by major decision over Ronald Grevera (Muhlenberg) Maj 13-4
Semifinal – Kole Marko (Minnesota State) won by decision over Colby Tool (Central) Dec 12-6
1st Place Match – Kole Marko (Minnesota State) won by major decision over Caleb Connor (Morningside) Maj 15-3
Mike Smith (174) – 1st Place
Champ. Round 1 – Michael Smith (Minnesota State) won by fall over Colton Berg (Wartburg) Fall 2:58
Quarterfinal – Michael Smith (Minnesota State) won by fall over Juan Isiordia (Ellsworth CC) Fall 4:50
Semifinal – Michael Smith (Minnesota State) won by decision over Austin Roos (Central) Dec 8-3
1st Place Match – Michael Smith (Minnesota State) won by fall over Anson Dewar (Muhlenberg) Fall 2:50
Nic Leo (184) – 1st Place
Champ. Round 1 – Nicolas Leo (Minnesota State) won by decision over Ryan Fairchild (Muhlenberg) Dec 4-3
Quarterfinal – Nicolas Leo (Minnesota State) won by decision over Caden Mumme (Wartburg) Dec 6-4
Semifinal – Nicolas Leo (Minnesota State) won by medical forfeit over Owen McDaniel (Albion) MFF
1st Place Match – Nicolas Leo (Minnesota State) won by decision over Christian Wilson (Central) Dec 6-4
Thomas Johnson (197) – 3rd Place
Champ. Round 1 – Thomas Johnson (Minnesota State) won by fall over Austin Eggleston (Unattached – Ellsworth) Fall 1:51
Quarterfinal – Thomas Johnson (Minnesota State) won by decision over Steven Karas (Wartburg) Dec 2-0
Semifinal – Gage Linahon (Central) won by decision over Thomas Johnson (Minnesota State) Dec 8-6
3rd Place Match – Thomas Johnson (Minnesota State) won by fall over Seth Butler (Wartburg) Fall 0:56
Dylan Butts (197) – 6th Place
Champ. Round 1 – Dylan Butts (Minnesota State) won by fall over Garrett St. Clair (Benedictine College) Fall 5:08
Quarterfinal – Seth Butler (Wartburg) won by decision over Dylan Butts (Minnesota State) Dec 2-0
Cons. Round 2 – Dylan Butts (Minnesota State) won by decision over Joshua Piechowski (Minnesota State) Dec 9-6
5th Place Match – Steven Karas (Wartburg) won by fall over Dylan Butts (Minnesota State) Fall 4:58
Joshua Piechowski (197)
Champ. Round 1 – Joshua Piechowski (Minnesota State) won by decision over John Schuttler (Graceland University) Dec 7-5
Quarterfinal – Austin Cooley (Schreiner) won by fall over Joshua Piechowski (Minnesota State) Fall 2:10
Cons. Round 2 – Dylan Butts (Minnesota State) won by decision over Joshua Piechowski (Minnesota State) Dec 9-6
Darrell Mason (285) – 1st Place
Champ. Round 1 – Darrell Mason (Minnesota State) won by decision over Jakob Jerabek (Morningside) Dec 9-3
Quarterfinal – Darrell Mason (Minnesota State) won by decision over David Toese (Graceland University) Dec 7-3
Semifinal – Darrell Mason (Minnesota State) won by decision over Miles Berg (Central) Dec 13-6
1st Place Match – Darrell Mason (Minnesota State) won by decision over Owen Miller (Albion) Dec 3-2
Max Villnow (285) – 3rd Place
Champ. Round 1 – Max Villnow (Minnesota State) won by decision over Tegan Carson (Ellsworth CC) Dec 7-0
Quarterfinal – Max Villnow (Minnesota State) won by decision over Forrest Hyson (Morningside) Dec 4-3
Semifinal – Owen Miller (Albion) won by decision over Max Villnow (Minnesota State) Dec 7-5
3rd Place Match – Max Villnow (Minnesota State) won in overtime over Miles Berg (Central) OT 3-1
Minnesota State Results – Silver Bracket (Unattached)
Kain Sanders (149) – 3rd Place
Quarterfinal – Kain Sanders (Minnesota State) won by tech fall over Dalton Thorson (Waldorf (Iowa)) TF 20-1
Semifinal – Kiefer Duncan (Wartburg) won by decision over Kain Sanders (Minnesota State) Dec 9-7
3rd Place Match – Kain Sanders (Minnesota State) won by decision over Rudy Osborne (Wartburg) Dec 10-3
Jett Thoreson (157) – 1st Place
Champ. Round 1 – Jett Thoreson (Minnesota State) won by fall over Jason Salas (Nebraska Wesleyan) Fall 2:14
Quarterfinal – Jett Thoreson (Minnesota State) won by medical forfeit over Michael Schliem (Wartburg) MFF
Semifinal – Jett Thoreson (Minnesota State) won by fall over Elijah Belzer (Central) Fall 6:20
1st Place Match – Jett Thoreson (Minnesota State) won by fall over Invi Bella (Graceland University) Fall 6:40
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