Eureka Wrestling Makes Program Debut at Pointer Open
STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Eureka College men's and women's wrestling teams officially competed for the first time in Red Devil history on Saturday.
The Red Devils opened their inaugural season against a loaded field at the Pointer Open. Seventeen wrestlers in maroon and gold singlets – 11 men and six women – went to the mat for Eureka.
"This was a tougher Division III Tournament," EC men's and women's wrestling coach Eric Biehl said. "There were quite a few ranked kids there. Just about every weight class had 2-4 ranked individuals, so the men's and women's teams were both tested pretty well, and I think they responded well.
"We definitely had some high points today."
Chief among them, Andrew Sims (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth/Lincoln) and Gaige Owens (Marion, Ill./Marion/Iowa Wesleyan) placed third and seventh in their respective weight classes.
Sims, a junior transfer from Lincoln College, went 5-1 on the day at 165 pounds. He won two of his first three matches by sudden victory to make it to the quarterfinals, where he fell to Shane Gantz of Wisconsin-Parkside (No. 1 at 165 in Division II).
After that, he wrestled back with a 9-2 decision over Nate Stokhaug of Wisconsin-Oshkosh to make it to the third-place match. He ended up taking third due to a medical forfeit by Brandon Peckham of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (No. 13 at 165 in Division III).
"I feel like it went pretty well," Sims said. "It's the first meet, first weight cut, so obviously you've got dust to knock off, but I fought hard and had a bunch of close matches.
"Overall, it was a good first tournament to blow your lungs out, and learn what you need to work on for the rest of the tournament."
Owens placed seventh at 133 pounds in his first collegiate match after a couple of years away from competition. He scored an 11-1 major decision over Keaden Niemojuski of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, pinned Augustana's JT Williams in 24 seconds and edged Justin Fortugano of Wisconsin-Whitewater 3-2 to clinch seventh.
"He has been out of wrestling for two years," Biehl said. 'Stepping back on to the mat and wrestling at a high level like he did today is something to be proud of."
On the women's side, McKenzie Cook (Homer, Alaska/Homer/Lincoln) and Gada Bryant (Westville, Ill./Westville/Lincoln) were both a win away from placing at 155 and 109, respectively. Cook had two tech falls and Bryant had a decision and a fall.
On the men's side, three others were a win away from placing Nathan Berta (Channahon, Ill./ Minooka/Calumet College of St Joseph) at 141, Dominic Tenayuca (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs/Lincoln) at 149 and Thomas Culp (Quincy, Ill./Quincy/Lincoln) at 184
At 174 pounds, Brock Neill (Oglesby, Ill./La Salle-Peru/Lincoln) won two matches on the day.
Also picking up a win in their Red Devils debuts were Jake Jozwiak (Lake Villa, Ill./Grayslake North/Lincoln) at 125, Bradden Davis (Mount Vernon, Ill./Mount Vernon) at 141 and Hunter Yohn (Quincy, Ill./Quincy/Lincoln) at 157.
"I think with a new program, a lot of times you'll be overlooked," Biehl said, "but I think we definitely put Eureka College wrestling on the map this weekend."
"No one knew who we were when we got there," Sims added. "I hope when we left people were at least asking questions and looking at us, because a lot of our guys scrapped with some of the best guys that were there."
The Red Devils will next host Morton College in the first dual in program history at Reagan Athletic Complex on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.