INDIANAPOLIS - The Trine University wrestling team finished 20th with 14 points at the 34th annual Midwest Classic, hosted by the University of Indianapolis.
Newberry, the fifth ranked team in Division II took the team title with 159.5 points. The Thunder were second amongst all Division III schools behind 17th ranked Ohio Northern who finished seventh.
Leading the way for the Thunder was third ranked Ryan Piper (Onsted, Mich./Onsted) in the 174 division. The senior pinned his first opponent Anthony Navarro of Division II Northern State just 42 seconds into the second period. Pieper followed up with a 9-2 decision over Brandon O`Neill of Division II Ashland. The following match wouldn’t go his way as he fell to Elliot Copeland also from a Division II school, Western State.
In the 125 weight class, 22nd ranked sophomore Brandon Preston (Logansport, Ind./Logansport) won his opening match in decisive fashion, taking a major decision victory 13-2 over Division II Douglas Allembaugh from Central Missouri. Preston then took down Felix Casa del Valle from Lindsey Wilson out of the NAIA, 5-3. In his next two matches, Preston dropped decisions to Division II opponents, including his final match where he fell by just one points 9-8.
Picking up a win in the 133 division was freshman Nick Ader (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli). It took extra time, but Ader was able to defeat William Bryant from Mount St Joseph 3-1.
At 197, sophomore Mack Green (Buchanan, Mich./Buchanan) earned a pin on Justin Meineke also from Mount St Joseph at 4:52 of their match.
Trine will take the rest of 2012 off before returning to action on January 5 at the Chuck Porter Duals hosted by Knox College beginning at 9:00 a.m.