2021 Mid-American Conference Championships
Three Bobcats Still Standing After Opening Day of 2021 MAC Wrestling Championships
2/26/2021 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
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2021 Ohio MAC Wrestling Championships | Live Video | Live Results
TRENTON, N.J. -- Three Ohio wrestlers will move onto Saturday after the first day of the 2021 Mid-American Conference Championships, which got underway on Friday (February 26) at Cure Insurance Arena.
As a team, the Bobcats are in 11th place with 26.5 points. Missouri, which has won the last eight MAC titles, is in first place with 161.5 points, followed by Central Michigan (96.5 points) and Rider (96 points).
The 2021 MAC Championships will conclude on Saturday (February 27), with podium spots and automatic berths to the 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which will be held at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri on March 18-20, at stake.
The consolation quarterfinals will start at 12:00 p.m., with the consolation semifinals following immediately after at 1:00 p.m. At 2:20 p.m. the Championship Finals Parade and Face off Introductions will start followed by the Championship finals, third place, fifth place, seventh place and ninth place matched, where applicable.
Two Bobcats, redshirt senior Mario Guillen (Perrysburg, Ohio) and redshirt senior Jake Walker (Sarasota, Fla.), reached the semifinals of their respective weight classes before being defeated.
Guillen began his day with a 10-2 major decision win over George Mason's Anthony Glasl. In the quarterfinal, he won another decision over Tye Varndell from Edinboro to earn his way into the semifinal. Guillen was defeated in the semis by Matt Schmitt of Missouri in a 6-0 decision. The MAC has five automatic national qualifiers at the 133-pound division, so Guillen will need a win for an automatic big to the NCAA Championships.
Fellow redshirt senior Jake Walker (Sarasota, Fla.) also earned his way into the semifinal. He started with a with a 7-1 decision win over Kent State's Colin McCracken in the first round. In the quarterfinal, Walker defeated Austin Stith of George Mason by a 3-2 decision. Walker was defeated in the semifinal by Missouri wrestler Rocky Elam, who won by a 12-2 major decision. There are three automatic national qualifiers for the 197-pound division, so Walker will have to win out on Saturday to guarantee is spot in St. Louis.
Redshirt sophomore Colt Yinger (Nelsonville, Ohio) will join his teammates in the Saturday matches as he faces Kolby Ho of Clarion in the consolation quarterfinals of the 165-pound division. Yinger started his first-round action with a bye before being defeated by Ruley Smucher of Cleveland State in a close 6-4 decision in the quarterfinal. Yinger bounced back against Lock Haven's Tanner Updegraff with a 9-6 decision win to advance to the next round. The MAC owns two automatic qualifiers for the 20201 NCAa National Championships in the 165-pound division, meaning Yinger will have to hope for at at-large bid.
Six other Bobcats reached the second consolation round before bowing out of the tournament.
Redshirt freshman Jordan Slivka (Indianapolis, Ind.) started his day in the 157-pound division with a 5-2 decision win over Kent State's Ian Senz in the first round. He was defeated in a 7-4 decision by Peter Pappas of Edinboro in the quarterfinal and was defeated again in the second consolation round by Daniel Segura of George Mason, via a 6-1 decision. Slivka earned one point for Ohio.
Junior Logan Stanley (Fredericksburg, Ohio) started his day in the 174-pound division with a fall at 5:15 over Angel Garcia of Rider. Stanley went on to be defeated by a 4-2 decision from Paul Pierce of George Mason in the quarterfinal and suffered a 15-5 major decision loss by John Worthing of Clarion in the second consolation round. Stanley earned three points for Ohio.
Redshirt Junior Mason Kroening (Aurora, Ill.) bounced back from an opening-round loss with a 15-0 tech fall win over Kyle Davis from George Mason in the first consolation round. Kroening was defeated in the second consolation round in a close 4-2 decision against Max Wohlabaugh of Clarion. Kroening earned two points.
Redshirt freshman Oscar Sanchez (Genoa, Ohio) received a bye in the first consolation round before being defeated by Lucas Rodriguez of Edinboro via a fall at 5:56. Fellow redshirt-freshman Conor McCrone (Willoughby, Ohio) also received a bye in the first consolation round. He was defeated by an 11-6 decision by Kyle Schickel of Clarion to be eliminated from the 141-pound division bracket.
Redshirt sophomore Jordan Earnest (Wadsworth, Ohio) received a bye in the first consolation round after taking an early fall to Zach Elam of Missouri. Earnest was defeated in the second consolation round by Sam Schuyler of Buffalo in a very tight 9-8 decision.
Redshirt freshman Alex Mosconi (Bloomington, Ind.) was defeated twice on Friday and eliminated after a fall at 4:33 by Central Michigan's Corbyn Munson in the first consolation round of the 149-pound bracket.
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