ADRIAN, Mich. – Members of the Trine University men's wrestling team traveled to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament where two grapplers won individual championships and six more finished in top four. Juniors Joseph Langeman and Jett Boots both posted undefeated championship performances for the team.
Langeman tallied his victories in the 133 weight class. After an opening round bye, he would record a pin (3:46) in his first match before adding a second (1:40) in the semifinal round to advance to the championship. There he wrestled to a tight 3-0 victory over his opponent from Olivet College.
Boots would earn his championship in the 141 weight class. He too received an opening round by and opened with a pin (1:51) in his first match. In the semifinal round Boots won in a 7-6 decision to advance to the championship. There he faced Tanner Smith from Adrian College, who defeated him 9-4 earlier this week. This time Boots came out on top 10-5.
Sophomore Philip Burney competed at 157 and became the only member of the team to finish runner-up in his bracket. Burney posted an 18-5 major decision in his first match to advance to the semifinal. In that match he picked up a victory by pin (5:00) and advanced to the finals. He wrestled tough but ultimately came up short 8-2, finishing second.
Junior Isaac Hawkins opened the day in exciting fashion winning his opening match at 149 in sudden victory to advance to the semifinals. He then lost to drop to the consolation bracket where he recorded a pin (3:56) to move on to the third-place match. He recorded a major decision (11-2) over an opponent from Olivet to finish the event with the podium finish.
Freshman Lakin Webb also finished third while competing in the 157 weight class. He won his first two matches by pin (3:40 and 3:55) before falling to the consolation bracket in a semifinal major decision loss. Another pin (4:23) got him to the third-place match where he recorded a last minute pin (6:32) to secure third.
At 184, junior Andrew Williamson became the final member of the team to secure a third-place finish. He opened with a pin (1:11) before falling to one in the semifinals to move to the consolation bracket. There he picked up a 7-4 decision to move on to the third-place match. In that final he posted a commanding 16-0 technical fall victory to secure the finish.
Freshman Shaun Pratt at 125 and sophomore John Browning at 174 both would finish fourth. Pratt earned two wins by fall (6:19 and 2:37) on his way to the finish. Browning picked up a major decision and a pin (4:27) on his way to fourth.
Trine will continue their season when individuals head to the Mid States Tournament which is set to be hosted by Olivet College on Saturday, February 14.