Curcio paces Falcons at MSOE Invitational

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Joshua Curcio placed second at the MSOE Invitational on Saturday, while Concordia University Wisconsin had four wrestlers who finished sixth or better.

THE BASICS
Location: Kern Center (Milwaukee, Wis.)

HOW IT HAPPENED
- CUW 15 wrestlers compete on Saturday and four finished sixth or better. Curcio (junior, Granger, Ind.) took second at 141 pounds with a 3-1 record, while sophomore Mitchell Slatton (Granger, Ind.) placed fourth at 184 pounds with a 3-2 record. Junior John Hinson (Glendale, Ariz.) earned a fifth place finish after going 4-2 and Freshman Miguel Betancourt (El Paso, Texas) took sixth at 149 pounds with a 3-3 record.
- Curcio began his day with an impressive technical fall decision win, 23-7, against Preston Adams (Central). He then won back-to-back matches by fall against Jadin Taylor (Hannibal La-Grange) in 4:15 and Jahleel Vester (Central) in 6:40. Curcio's day ended with a decision loss, 7-0, against Josh Fuqua (Millikin).
- Slatton advanced in the opening round after Kye Reczek (Millikin) injury defaulted. He then won by decision, 7-0, over Seth Pierce (Hannibal La-Grange) to advance to the semifinal round where he fell by major decision, 12-3, to Grant Wedepohl (UW-Platteville). In the consolation bracket he defeated Wesley Colton (Lakeland) by decision, 3-2, before his day ended by fall, 4:40, against Austin Laabs (Central).
- Following a decision loss, 10-6, to Bryant Etherton (UW-Platteville) the Falcons' 197-pounder Hinson won consecutive matches. He defeated his teammate Ryan Cook (senior, Streamwood, Ill.) by major decision, 12-3, and Chris Yaros (UW-Oshkosh) by decision, 14-9. Hinson then lost to Nigel Burnett (Hannibal La-Grange) by decision, 14-9, before clinching fifth place with a thrilling 3-1 decision win by sudden victory against Eddie Terres (Lakeland).
- Betancourt began his day with a decision defeat, 4-2, to Mason Bohm (UW-Platteville) prior to winning three-consecutive bouts. He defeated Corey Knudsen (UW-Oshkosh) by decision, 5-4, prior to defeating Zachary Harrell (Wheaton) by decision, 8-6. Betancourt capped his winning streak with a 4-3 decision victory by tiebreaker against Bryant Ridgeway (St. Oalf). Betancourt dropped a technical fall, 17-2, bout to Tanner Hocker (Central) before winning by decision, 7-1, versus Hunter Mulock (UW-Oshkosh).
- Senior Pierce Holtfreter (Las Vegas, Nev.) concluded his day at 157 pounds, the most difficult weight class of the Invitational, with a 3-2 record. He lost by fall, 6:04 to Mike O'Conner (Central) to begin his day before rattling off three-consecutive wins. Holtfreter pinned Nathan Arquinego (UW-Oshkosh) in 6:34 before sticking Josh Sincoff (Millikin) in 1:27. He also won by major decision, 15-7, against Marcus McCauley (Lakeland) before losing to Mike O'Connor by decision, 10-4, in sudden victory.

BEYOND THE RESULTS
- Holtfreter's two pins equaled 8:01, which is less time than Curcio's two pins of 10:55. Holtfreter's win by fall in 1:27 was his fastest of the season. Junior Thomas Schmidt (Bonduel, Wis.) also won by fall in 3:25.
- Curcio has now won three of his seven bouts this season by fall totaling 13:27.
- Betancourt's three-straight victories were tied for the most in a row by a Falcon during the Invitational, along with Holtfreter.
- The Falcons were involved in four sudden victory decision during the day and ended those bouts with a 2-2 record.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
- The Falcons travel on Saturday for a pair of duals against UW-Stevens Point and UW-Oshkosh