INDIANAPOLIS – Western State Colorado University wrestling entered the weekend unranked, competing at the 39^th Annual Midwest Classic. The odds were against the Mountaineers at one of the premier NCAA Division II tournaments of the season. There were 17 teams ranked in the top-25 at the Midwest Classic, but the unranked Mountaineers pushed their way towards the top and finished the tournament in fifth place.
 
Western wrestlers led the tournament with 11 pins and finished with 86.5 teams points. The Mountaineers were just 1.5 points behind fourth-place finishing Findlay University.
 
Four Mountaineer grapplers placed at the tournament. Konnor Schmidt was the highest Western placer finishing second at 197 pounds. Schmidt made the finals earning a technical fall and fall in the first two matches before winning his next two matches by decision.
 
In the finals, Schmidt faced Limestone College's Matt Rudy, a returning All-American and currently ranked fourth in Division II at 197 pounds. Schmidt, ranked 11^th, entered the third period against Rudy tied 2-2. Rudy was able to escape and get a takedown, taking a 5-2 decision.
 
Finishing third was Brandon Supernaw at 174 pounds. Supernaw lost only one match, falling to Mladen Vasilev of Maryville University in the quarterfinals by a 14-11 decision. Supernaw avenged that loss in the third-place match, defeating Vasilev by a 6-3 decision.
 
Ryan Pellow finished fourth at 165 pounds. After winning his first match, Pellow fell in the second round but rebounded by winning his next five straight to make the third-place bout. Pellow won two matches by fall, while his other four wins came by decision.
 
The other Mountaineer to place at the Midwest Classic was Trenton Piatt at 125 pounds. Despite a field packed with 11 ranked wrestlers, Piatt made his way to the quarterfinals pinning Giuseppe Penzone of Tiffin University, ranked 10^th, in the second round.  After a loss in the quarters, and a loss in the consolation round five, Piatt earned another fall in the seventh place match, defeating Central Missouri University's John Feeney.
 
Western true freshman Jody Sandoval tied for a tournament-high three falls. Both of Sandoval's losses at the Midwest Classic came against ranked opponents.
 
The Mountaineers return to the mat on Jan. 6 for the Tracy Borah Duals in Gunnison.
 
Results

125

Trent Piatt (9-4) placed 7th and scored 10.50 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Trent Piatt (Western State Colorado University) 9-4 won in tie breaker - 2 over Vincent Distefanis (Seton Hill) 4-4 (TB-2 10-8)
• Champ. Round 2 - Trent Piatt (Western State Colorado University) 9-4 won by fall over Giuseppe Penzone (Tiffin University) 9-8 (Fall 1:17)
• Quarterfinal - Maleek Williams (Upper Iowa) 12-3 won by decision over Trent Piatt (Western State Colorado University) 9-4 (Dec 7-5)
• Cons. Round 4 - Trent Piatt (Western State Colorado University) 9-4 won by decision over James Sass (Limestone) 3-3 (Dec 9-3)
• Cons. Round 5 - Giuseppe Penzone (Tiffin University) 9-8 won by fall over Trent Piatt (Western State Colorado University) 9-4 (Fall 1:15)
• 7th Place Match - Trent Piatt (Western State Colorado University) 9-4 won by fall over John Feeney (Central Missouri) 7-5 (Fall 3:55)

133

Jody Sandoval II (8-4) place is unknown and scored 7.50 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Nolan Whitely (Newberry) 13-6 won by decision over Jody Sandoval II (Western State Colorado University) 8-4 (Dec 15-11)
• Cons. Round 1 - Jody Sandoval II (Western State Colorado University) 8-4 won by fall over Seth Hutchison (Minnesota State Moorhead) 6-6 (Fall 1:04)
• Cons. Round 2 - Jody Sandoval II (Western State Colorado University) 8-4 won by fall over Brady Moser (Lindsey Wilson) 4-2 (Fall 2:37)
• Cons. Round 3 - Jody Sandoval II (Western State Colorado University) 8-4 won by fall over Jebben Keyes (Augustana) 2-2 (Fall 2:49)
• Cons. Round 4 - Josh Walker (Upper Iowa) 14-5 won by tech fall over Jody Sandoval II (Western State Colorado University) 8-4 (TF-1.5 4:03 (18-2))

141

Tim Edmonson (4-6) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Gage Branson (Bellarmine University) 17-3 won by decision over Tim Edmonson (Western State Colorado University) 4-6 (Dec 7-3)
• Cons. Round 1 - Carson Meek (Central Missouri) 6-6 won by fall over Tim Edmonson (Western State Colorado University) 4-6 (Fall 1:15)

149

JD Chenoweth (3-2) place is unknown and scored 2.50 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Frank Yattoni (Wisconsin-Parkside) 14-2 won by tech fall over JD Chenoweth (Western State Colorado University) 3-2 (TF-1.5 5:25 (15-0))
• Cons. Round 1 - JD Chenoweth (Western State Colorado University) 3-2 won by fall over Taylor Catoe (Coker College) 0-8 (Fall 1:55)
• Cons. Round 2 - Josh Wimer (Findlay) 9-5 won by decision over JD Chenoweth (Western State Colorado University) 3-2 (Dec 6-4)

157

Shawn Beiriger (7-4) place is unknown and scored 2.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - James Wimer (Findlay) 14-9 won by major decision over Shawn Beiriger (Western State Colorado University) 7-4 (MD 15-3)
• Cons. Round 1 - Shawn Beiriger (Western State Colorado University) 7-4 won by major decision over Quam Jackson (Lake Erie College) 4-10 (MD 15-5)
• Cons. Round 2 - Shawn Beiriger (Western State Colorado University) 7-4 won by decision over Ben Stahlman (Drury University) 18-8 (Dec 11-4)
• Cons. Round 3 - Dylan Taylor (Wheeling Jesuit University) 8-7 won by tech fall over Shawn Beiriger (Western State Colorado University) 7-4 (TF-1.5 4:16 (19-3))

165

Ryan Pellow (10-4) placed 4th and scored 16.50 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Ryan Pellow (Western State Colorado University) 10-4 won by decision over Grant Taylor (Drury University) 8-13 (Dec 5-0)
• Champ. Round 2 - John Anderson (Maryville University) 6-4 won by decision over Ryan Pellow (Western State Colorado University) 10-4 (Dec 4-0)
• Cons. Round 2 - Ryan Pellow (Western State Colorado University) 10-4 won by fall over Daquon Wilson (Limestone) 6-4 (Fall 2:09)
• Cons. Round 3 - Ryan Pellow (Western State Colorado University) 10-4 won by decision over Noah Perkins (Newman) 7-10 (Dec 7-4)
• Cons. Round 4 - Ryan Pellow (Western State Colorado University) 10-4 won by decision over Tyler Mann (Ouachita Baptist University) 14-6 (Dec 5-4)
• Cons. Round 5 - Ryan Pellow (Western State Colorado University) 10-4 won by decision over Austin Stofer (Lindenwood) 11-8 (Dec 4-3)
• Cons. Semi - Ryan Pellow (Western State Colorado University) 10-4 won by fall over Zach Voytek (Seton Hill) 7-4 (Fall 6:37)
• 3rd Place Match - Alonzo Turner (Findlay) 13-7 won by major decision over Ryan Pellow (Western State Colorado University) 10-4 (MD 12-4)

174

Brandon Supernaw (12-2) placed 3rd and scored 20.50 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Brandon Supernaw (Western State Colorado University) 12-2 won by medical forfeit over Dylan Wiesner (Fort Hays State) 7-9 (M. For.)
• Champ. Round 2 - Brandon Supernaw (Western State Colorado University) 12-2 won by decision over Luke Kriech (Indianapolis) 9-6 (Dec 12-6)
• Quarterfinal - Mladen Vasilev (Maryville University) 10-8 won by decision over Brandon Supernaw (Western State Colorado University) 12-2 (Dec 14-11)
• Cons. Round 4 - Brandon Supernaw (Western State Colorado University) 12-2 won by fall over Chase Boyd (Tiffin University) 8-5 (Fall 2:08)
• Cons. Round 5 - Brandon Supernaw (Western State Colorado University) 12-2 won by injury default over Jacob Brune (Drury University) 11-5 (Inj. 0:00)
• Cons. Semi - Brandon Supernaw (Western State Colorado University) 12-2 won by major decision over Nathan Vandermeer (Findlay) 18-8 (MD 12-4)
• 3rd Place Match - Brandon Supernaw (Western State Colorado University) 12-2 won by decision over Mladen Vasilev (Maryville University) 10-8 (Dec 6-3)

184

Brendan Gonzales (2-2) place is unknown and scored 2.50 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Joel Dixon (Central Oklahoma) 8-4 won by tech fall over Brendan Gonzales (Western State Colorado University) 2-2 (TF-1.5 7:00 (22-7))
• Cons. Round 1 - Brendan Gonzales (Western State Colorado University) 2-2 won by fall over David Murphy (Northern State) 4-5 (Fall 4:11)
• Cons. Round 2 - Raekwon Reggler (Limestone) 6-8 won by fall over Brendan Gonzales (Western State Colorado University) 2-2 (Fall 3:28)

197

Konnor Schmidt (6-2) placed 2nd and scored 19.50 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Konnor Schmidt (Western State Colorado University) 6-2 won by tech fall over Brett Bryant (Bellarmine University) 7-10 (TF-1.5 4:03 (19-1))
• Champ. Round 2 - Konnor Schmidt (Western State Colorado University) 6-2 won by fall over Ryan Vasbinder (McKendree University) 21-9 (Fall 4:37)
• Quarterfinal - Konnor Schmidt (Western State Colorado University) 6-2 won by decision over Elijah Seay (King University) 8-3 (Dec 3-1)
• Semifinal - Konnor Schmidt (Western State Colorado University) 6-2 won by decision over Armani Robinson (Findlay) 8-7 (Dec 3-1)
• 1st Place Match - Matthew Rudy (Limestone) 12-2 won by decision over Konnor Schmidt (Western State Colorado University) 6-2 (Dec 5-2)

285

Samuel DeSeriere (10-6) place is unknown and scored 5.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Dominic Tudor (Mary) 12-5 won by fall over Samuel DeSeriere (Western State Colorado University) 10-6 (Fall 7:35)
• Cons. Round 1 - Samuel DeSeriere (Western State Colorado University) 10-6 won by forfeit over Andrew Colborn (UNC Pembroke) 3-8 (For.)
• Cons. Round 2 - Samuel DeSeriere (Western State Colorado University) 10-6 won by medical forfeit over Logan Hopp (Upper Iowa) 1-2 (M. For.)
• Cons. Round 3 - Patton Gossett (Newberry) 9-6 won by decision over Samuel DeSeriere (Western State Colorado University) 10-6 (Dec 13-9)