INDIANAPOLIS – Max Bruss had a perfect weekend at the 43^rd Midwest Classic, defeating every challenger to win his weight class at the largest NCAA Division II tournament of the season and leading 22^nd ranked University of Mary to a 7th place team finish. Joining Bruss with a podium finish was Reece Barnhardt as the All-American was the runner up in his division.
 
Bruss, ranked sixth in the nation at 174, was undefeated in three matches on day one of the tournament and needed two wins Sunday to take the title. The junior from De Pere, WI, opened Sunday with a 4-2 decision over Brandon Matthews (Seton Hill) in the semifinals to move into the championship match. Bruss followed with another 4-2 decision, downing Zeke Waltz (McKendree) to win the title.
 
Among his five wins on the weekend, one came by fall over the 9^th ranked wrestler at 174 in the country and another by major decision.
 
Barnhardt, who started the day in the semifinals after also claiming three wins on Saturday, opened Sunday with his biggest win of the weekend. Ranked 10^th in the country, Barnhardt eliminated 6^th ranked Elijah Lusk of Lander with a 16-4 major decision. The sophomore from Bismarck, ND, fell just short of taking the title, dropping a 9-2 decision to Dylan Lucas (Central Oklahoma) in the title match.
 
Barnhardt finished with four wins in five matches, including a win by fall and a major decision.
 
Laken Boese, Leo Mushinsky, Anthony Velazquez and Wyatt Lidberg also took to the mat on Sunday after strong opening day performances but lost in the blood round and didn't advance.
 
The Marauders finished the 43-team tournament in 7^th place with 73 points. Central Oklahoma won the 43^rd Midwest Classic with 178.5 points, followed by University of Pittsburgh-Johnston (95), Lander (92), Colorado Mesa (87.5), UW-Parkside (77.5), Upper Iowa (76.5) and UMary. Rounding out the top ten were Adams State (66), Glenville State (64.5) and Mercyhurst (64.5).
 
The Midwest Classic included 17 ranked teams and over 400 wrestlers.
 
Following a break for Christmas, the Marauders return to action January 6-7 at the NWCA National Duals in Lexington, KY.
 
43^rd Midwest Classic Results for UMary (final)
 
133 - #10 Reece Barnhardt
Champ. Round 1 - Reece Barnhardt (Mary) 14-4 won by fall over Jackson Caswell (Drury) 9-6 (Fall 2:53)
Champ. Round 2 - Reece Barnhardt (Mary) 14-4 won by decision over Gavin Ritter (Findlay) 2-2 (Dec 8-1)
Quarterfinal - Reece Barnhardt (Mary) 14-4 won by decision over Mason Turner (Fort Hays State) 13-6 (Dec 10-4)
Semifinal - Reece Barnhardt (Mary) 14-4 won by major decision over Elijah Lusk (Lander) 5-2 (MD 16-4)
1st Place Match - Dylan Lucas (Central Oklahoma) 13-1 won by decision over Reece Barnhardt (Mary) 14-4 (Dec 9-2)
 
141 – Laken Boese
Champ. Round 1 - Laken Boese (Mary) 10-5 won by fall over Elijah-Kade Millsaps (Lincoln Memorial) 2-7 (Fall 1:09)
Champ. Round 2 - Laken Boese (Mary) 10-5 won by fall over Caleb Morris (Pitt.-Johnstown) 3-2 (Fall 3:35)
Quarterfinal - Zeth Brower (Lander) 5-0 won by fall over Laken Boese (Mary) 10-5 (Fall 6:53)
Cons. Round 4 - Cayden Henschel (UW-Parkside) 4-3 won in sudden victory - 1 over Laken Boese (Mary) 10-5 (SV-1 11-9)
 
149 - Leo Mushinsky
Champ. Round 1 - Leo Mushinsky (Mary) 8-7 won by major decision over Zander Fields (Ouachita Baptist) 3-5 (MD 11-3)
Champ. Round 2 - Jalen Spuhler (UW-Parkside) 4-2 won by decision over Leo Mushinsky (Mary) 8-7 (Dec 5-3)
Cons. Round 2 - Leo Mushinsky (Mary) 8-7 won by tech fall over Alex Dilegge (Limestone) 16-7 (TF-1.5 7:00 (18-3))
Cons. Round 3 - Leo Mushinsky (Mary) 8-7 won by decision over Matthew Kaufmann (Notre Dame (Ohio)) 16-6 (Dec 3-1)
Cons. Round 4 - Darick Lapaglia (Central Missouri) 10-2 won by decision over Leo Mushinsky (Mary) 8-7 (Dec 6-2)
 
157 - Anthony Velazquez
Prelim - JD Culp (Central Missouri) 17-8 won by decision over Anthony Velazquez (Mary) 7-5 (Dec 13-6)
Prelim - Anthony Velazquez (Mary) 7-5 won by medical forfeit over Eric Faught (Upper Iowa) 11-3 (M. For.)
Cons. Round 1 - Anthony Velazquez (Mary) 7-5 won by decision over Cody Hicks (Fort Hays State) 9-9 (Dec 14-8)
Cons. Round 2 - Anthony Velazquez (Mary) 7-5 won by decision over JD Culp (Central Missouri) 17-8 (Dec 12-5)
Cons. Round 3 - Anthony Velazquez (Mary) 7-5 won by fall over Mike Vernagallo (Mount Olive) 12-3 (Fall 2:43)
Cons. Round 4 - Carter Noehre (Colorado School of Mines) 9-5 won by decision over Anthony Velazquez (Mary) 7-5 (Dec 10-9)
 
165 - Riley Noble
Prelim - Riley Noble (Mary) 4-2 won by fall over Cooper Bachman (Emmanuel) 6-6 (Fall 4:23)
Champ. Round 1 - Drew Wiechers (Ashland) 9-4 won by decision over Riley Noble (Mary) 4-2 (Dec 6-3)
Cons. Round 1 - Riley Noble (Mary) 4-2 won by decision over Mike Clark (Mercyhurst) 3-4 (Dec 11-6)
Cons. Round 2 - Riley Noble (Mary) 4-2 won by fall over Caleb Grau (UNC-Pembroke) 11-2 (Fall 5:28)
Cons. Round 3 - Cole Ritter (Maryville) 12-5 won by decision over Riley Noble (Mary) 4-2 (Dec 5-2)
 
174 - #6 Max Bruss
Champ. Round 1 - Max Bruss (Mary) 15-2 won by major decision over Andrew (Jayson) Knick (Findlay) 2-2 (MD 9-1)
Champ. Round 2 - Max Bruss (Mary) 15-2 won by decision over Cade Lindsey (Fort Hays State) 18-4 (Dec 7-5)
Quarterfinal - Max Bruss (Mary) 15-2 won by fall over Cole Hernandez (Western Colorado) 12-6 (Fall 4:30)
Semifinal - Max Bruss (Mary) 15-2 won by decision over Brandon Matthews (Seton Hill) 10-5 (Dec 4-2)
1st Place Match - Max Bruss (Mary) 15-2 won by decision over Zeke Waltz (McKendree) 5-1 (Dec 4-2)
 
184 - Wyatt Lidberg
Champ. Round 1 - Wyatt Lidberg (Mary) 13-4 won by major decision over JD Johnson (Newman) 13-8 (MD 11-1)
Champ. Round 2 - Brock Biddle (Pitt.-Johnstown) 6-2 won by decision over Wyatt Lidberg (Mary) 13-4 (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Wyatt Lidberg (Mary) 13-4 won by tech fall over William Martin (Ouachita Baptist) 6-7 (TF-1.5 7:00 (18-3))
Cons. Round 3 - Wyatt Lidberg (Mary) 13-4 won by decision over Jason Bynarowicz (Colorado Mesa) 9-5 (Dec 14-7)
Cons. Round 4 - Reece Worachek (UW-Parkside) 5-2 won by decision over Wyatt Lidberg (Mary) 13-4 (Dec 3-2)
 
197 - #11 Matthew Kaylor
Champ. Round 1 - Matt Kaylor (Mary) 12-6 won by decision over Jacob Kowalski (Findlay) 2-2 (Dec 6-1)
Champ. Round 2 - Dalton Hahn (Upper Iowa) 3-3 won by fall over Matt Kaylor (Mary) 12-6 (Fall 3:50)
Cons. Round 2 - Matt Kaylor (Mary) 12-6 won by tech fall over Trent Strong (Central Missouri) 6-10 (TF-1.5 7:00 (17-2))
Cons. Round 3 - Porter Fox (Western Colorado) 9-5 won in tie breaker - 1 over Matt Kaylor (Mary) 12-6 (TB-1 4-2)
 
285 - Luke Tweeton
Prelim - Luke Tweeton (Mary) 13-5 won by fall over Robert Ward (Kentucky Wesleyan ) 1-15 (Fall 3:51)
Champ. Round 1 - Jacob Telles (King) 17-8 won by decision over Luke Tweeton (Mary) 13-5 (Dec 3-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Luke Tweeton (Mary) 13-5 won by decision over Ja`Mond Goodwine (Emmanuel) 6-9 (Dec 6-0)
Cons. Round 2 - Ian Kuehl (McKendree) 2-2 won by decision over Luke Tweeton (Mary) 13-5 (Dec 6-0)
 
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