Wrestling | March 4

ATHENS, Ohio – Brit Wilson (Mexico, Mo./Mexico), Mason Kauffman (Stratford, Wis./Stratford/Eastern Michigan) and Izzak Olejnik (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) advanced to the finals of the 2022 Mid-American Conference Wrestling Championships at Ohio University's Convocation Center on Friday, as the Huskies finished the first day of competition in third place.
 
"It was nice to punch three through to the finals, but we've still got a big job ahead of us," said head coach Ryan Ludwig. "We want to win those matches and come out with championships but before that we have four guys still battling back through the consolations. Every match, every advancement, every bonus point we can get from them really chips in toward our team tally."
 
Wilson outscored his three opponents 29-6 on his march to a third straight MAC Championship bout at 184 pounds. He opened the day with a 12-2 major decision win over Evan Vazquez of Rider. After a 9-1 win over Pete Acciardi of Buffalo in the quarterfinals, Wilson took down the number four seed Kyle Davis of George Mason 8-3 to reach the championship match against Kent State's Colin McCracken.
 
"Brit just keeps working to score points, and for him to just focus on that amidst all the perceived expectations on him shows he's dialed in," Ludwig said. "He's just looking to get out there and put a full effort in, and when he's focused that's when he's at his best."
 
Kauffman started his day with a major decision victory as well at 174 pounds, a 14-5 win over Edinboro's Joseph Arnold. In the quarterfinals the redshirt-senior held off Michael Ferre of Kent State 5-4. He reached his first MAC final with a 3-2 win over Jay Nivison of Buffalo. Izzak Olejnik had a bye in the first round of the 165 pound bracket. He shutout George Mason's Tyler Kocak 4-0 in the quarterfinals and qualified for his second straight MAC championship match with a 9-4 win over Central Michigan's Tracy Hubbard.
 
"Mason is doing a really good job of getting out and executing his takedowns early," said Ludwig. "Izzak controlled his matches by executing a takedown and riding tough on top."
 
NIU's top-seeded trio of Wilson, Kauffman, and Olejnik accounted for 48 of the Huskies' 67.5 points on Friday. The Huskies have four other wrestlers still alive in the consolation rounds. Bryce West (Solon, Iowa) put five points on the team standings in the consolation rounds at 125, earning a 15-2 major decision over Tyler Klinsky of Rider and an 8-6 win over Logan Heil of Cleveland State. Anthony Gibson (Westland, Mich./John Glenn) bounced back from a quarterfinal loss at 157 to win by fall over Kent State's Robert Pryhocki. Jaivon Jones (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Nordonia) beat the top-seed at 141, Central Michigan's Dresden Simon, 9-3 in the consolation round as well. Terrese Aaron (Mexico, Mo./Mexico) reached the quarterfinals at 285, but lost to the number two seed Isaac Reid of Lock Haven in the semis. He rebounded for a 6-2 win over Ali Salem.
 
Lock Haven leads the team standings with 94 points. Central Michigan is second with 73.5 points. NIU is one point up on fourth-place Clarion going into Saturday's action.
 
The MAC Wrestling Championships continue Saturday with the consolation quarterfinals at 10:30 a.m. CT. The championship finals are set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
2022 MAC Wrestling Championships
Team Scores
 
1. Lock Haven              94.0
2. Central Michigan    73.5
3. NIU                          67.5
4. Clarion                     66.5
5. Kent State               59.0
6. Buffalo                    57.0
7. Cleveland State       55.5
8. Rider                       53.5
9. Ohio                        50.0
10. George Mason      35.5
11. SIUE                       33.5
12. Bloomsburg          30.0
13. Edinboro               24.0
 
--NIU--