Trio of Warriors Place 918 Open

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Midland University sent five wrestlers to the 918 Open at the Mueller Sports Center on Saturday. The Warriors saw three wrestlers earn medals at the event hosted by Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

At 125 pounds, Janson Pilkington competed in a five-man bracket and went 0-and-4 on the day. Yair Sanchez of Central Baptist defeated Pilkington by fall in 2:54. In his second bout, Pilkington dropped a 15-0 technical fall to Jake Stanton of Oklahoma Wesleyan. Pilkington lost to Christian Forbes of Oklahoma by a technical fall, 15-0. In his final matchup of the day, Pilkington lost to the No. 25-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds, David Corretjer of Central Baptist, by fall in 0:30. Pilkington finished fifth.

Trevin Arlt earned a sixth-place showing at 141 pounds. After receiving a first-round bye, Arlt won his quarterfinal round match by fall over Drayton Kennedy of Northeastern Oklahoma, in 2:07. In the semifinals, Vincent Citrano of Northeastern Oklahoma defeated Arlt by fall in 6:31. In the consolation semifinals, Arlt dropped a 12-0 major decision to Jacob Zimmer of Oklahoma. Battling in the fifth-place match, Arlt lost to Wade Landrum of Oklahoma Wesleyan, by fall, in 1:55.

Midland had two wrestlers competing in the 184-pound division. Connor Rinn lost his opening round match to Tye Frnka of Northeastern Oklahoma by technical fall, 19-3. After a consolation round one bye, Rinn had to battle his teammate, Nate McDonald. McDonald won the matchup of the Midland grapplers, 4-1, in sudden overtime.

McDonald placed sixth for Midland at 184 pounds. After receiving an opening round bye, McDonald lost his quarterfinal round match to Eil Cordy, wrestling unattached, by a major decision, 10-1. After defeating his Warrior teammate, Rinn, McDonald earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ricktak Iban of Ozarks, in consolation round three. In the consolation semifinals, McDonald was defeated by Tye Frnka of Northeastern Oklahoma by fall, in 4:29. McDonald bowed out of the fifth-place match to Bryce Goucher of Cowley, by medical forfeit.

Ryan Kocovsky wrestled at 285 pounds. After an opening round bye, Kocovsky dropped a 12-1 major decision to Eben Crain of Northeastern Oklahoma, in round two. After a consolation round two bye, Kocovsky lost to Antwon Singleton, 10-2, in consolation round three.

Midland will get a break for the holidays before returning to action on Saturday, January 6. They'll travel to St. Louis, Missouri to compete in the Bongo/Bayly Open, hosted by Maryville University. Competition inside the Simon Athletic Center is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.