INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team traveled to Indianapolis over the weekend to compete in the 45th annual Midwest Classic. The Mustangs totaled eight wins at the meet, three of which came via major decision, one by tech fall, and one sudden victory.

The invitational featured 44 Division II teams with 21 of the top 25-ranked teams in attendance. Over 50 ranked wrestlers competed at the event. 

The Mustangs currently sit in 38th of 44 teams, with changes unlikely as competition wraps up.

Sean Howk led SMSU as the only wrestler to make it to the placement rounds. Howk suffered a loss by fall to No. 19 Lane Ewing (UMary) in the championship bracket but then went on to earn four straight victories in the consolation bracket. 

Howk started his run with a 4-1 decision victory over Marcell Dely (Fort Hays State) before grabbing a 2-0 win by decision over Ali Alicea (Kutztown). In his fourth match of the day he won by 8-2 decision over Lance Overmyer (Ashland) and then won by sudden victory over Maclain Morency (Grand Valley State).

Elijah Sterner picked up a win via tech fall on his way to the fourth round of the consolation bracket before suffering a loss via injury default to Jakob Hurley (Tiffin).

Adam Sylvester was another top performer for SMSU. He would also make his way to the fourth round of the consolation bracket, picking up a pair of wins by major decision before suffering a loss by fall to No. 11 Zeke Waltz (McKendree).

"The purpose of this trip is to be challenged mid-season and measure where we are at against the best in the country. We got what we needed, but fell just short of what we had hoped for," said SMSU head coach Chayse Jackson. "For the young guys, this will be a tool to help them grow, while allowing them to see some of the best wrestling in the country at their weight class. For the older guys who all advanced deep into the tournament, this is a reminder of how close we are and that the margin between good and great is razor-thin. Lucky for us, this is not the end of the year. We have two more months to train, develop, and improve to put our best team on the mat at regionals. Proud of their effort and excited to get back to Marshall."

SMSU Results
125lbs (presented by Mustang Wrestling Club) 
Champ. Round 1 - Preston Xayachak (SMSU) won by major decision over Jeremiah Ellis (Limestone) (MD 13-3)
Champ. Round 2 - Colt Brown (Montevallo) won by tech fall over Preston Xayachak (SMSU) (TF-1.5 6:07 (21-3))
Cons. Round 2 - Dylan McDonald (Minot State) won by tech fall over Preston Xayachak (SMSU) (TF-1.5 5:11 (20-5))

133lbs (presented by Fort Pierre Livestock Auction)
Champ. Round 1 - Trebor Moreno (Colorado School of Mines) won by tech fall over AJ Polansky (SMSU) (TF-1.5 5:39 (17-1))
Cons. Round 2 - Joseph Aldrich (American International) won by decision over AJ Polansky (SMSU) (Dec 9-3)

141lbs (presented by Tahnee Mara Concrete and Petroleum)
Champ. Round 1 - Denim Torgerson (Colorado Mesa) won by fall over Dylan Louwagie (SMSU) (Fall 4:12)
Cons. Round 2 - Eyan Chavez (Western Colorado) won by decision over Dylan Louwagie (SMSU) (Dec 7-5)

149lbs (presented by Lierman Excavating Co.)
Champ. Round 1 - Ethen Doty (Upper Iowa) won by fall over Jake Messner (SMSU) (Fall 5:25)
Cons. Round 2 - Hayden Kuhn won by major decision over Jake Messner (SMSU) (MD 11-2)

157lbs (presented by Wendinger Travel)
Champ. Round 2 - Lane Ewing (UMary) won by fall over Sean Howk (SMSU) (Fall 6:17)
Cons. Round 2 - Sean Howk (SMSU) won by decision over Marcell Dely (FHSU) (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 3 - Sean Howk (SMSU) won by decision over Ali Alicea (Kutztown) (Dec 2-0)
Cons. Round 4 - Sean Howk (SMSU) won by decision over Lance Overmyer (Ash.) (Dec 8-2)
Cons. Round 5 - Sean Howk (SMSU) won in sudden victory over Maclain Morency (Grand Valley State) (SV-1 4-1)
Cons. Round 6 - Marcus Caro (Colorado School of Mines) won by decision over Sean Howk (SMSU) (Dec 4-2)

165lbs (presented by Kibble Equipment)
Champ. Round 1 - Levi Deaguero (Adams State) won by decision over Caden Young (SMSU) (Dec 12-9)
Cons. Round 2 - Jakob Smith (Colorado School of Mines) won by fall over Caden Young (SMSU) (Fall 2:27)

174lbs (presented by Cottonwood Oil Co-op)
Champ. Round 2 - Patrick Jackson (Gannon) won by decision over Elijah Sterner (SMSU) (Dec 5-0)
Cons. Round 3 - Elijah Sterner (SMSU) won by tech fall over Robert Burke (East Stroudsburg) (TF-1.5 3:51 (16-0))
Cons. Round 4 - Jakob Hurley (Tiffin) won by injury default over Elijah Sterner (SMSU) (Inj. 6:16)

184lbs (presented by Army National Guard)
Champ. Round 1 - Jason Bynarowicz (Colorado Mesa) won by tech fall over Adam Sylvester (SMSU) (TF-1.5 6:20 (18-0))
Cons. Round 2 - Adam Sylvester (SMSU) won by major decision over Tanner Meyers (Northern State) (MD 13-3)
Cons. Round 3 - Adam Sylvester (SMSU) won by major decision over Ethan Lopez (King) (MD 14-4)
Cons. Round 4 - Zeke Waltz (McKendree) won by fall over Adam Sylvester (SMSU) (Fall 2:59)

197lbs (presented by Borch's Sporting Goods)
Champ. Round 1 - Jeramiah Larson (Maryville) won by fall over Kody Marschner (SMSU) (Fall 2:55)
Cons. Round 2 - Nathan Coley (King) won by injury default over Kody Marschner (SMSU) (Inj. 0:27)

285lbs (presented by Countryside Golf Course)
Champ. Round 2 - Ryan Herman (Maryville) won by fall over Evan Thompson (SMSU) (Fall 0:53)
Cons. Round 2 - Torin Forsyth (Central Missouri) won by fall over Evan Thompson (SMSU) (Fall 1:18)