Wrestling Places 11th at NCAA Regionals
MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin wrestling team wrapped up action at the NCAA Division III Upper Midwest Regionals on Saturday. The Falcons had three individuals reach the podium on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons finished in 11th place as a team with 50 points.
Senior Jack O'Donnell (Huntington Beach, Calif.) started the day in the semifinal bout in the 157 weight class and lost to second-ranked nationally Tyler Shilson of Augsburg by technical fall at 17-2. In the consolation semifinals, O'Donnell went up against Cody Welker of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and posted a thrilling fall at 1:24. In the battle for third place and a spot at the NCAA Division III Championships, O'Donnell faced off against Aiden Brosinski of Wisconsin-Platteville. Brosinski advanced with a 14-6 major decision.
Senior Val Kochiu (Oak Creek, Wis.) opened the day at the 149-pound consolation third round against Jacob Prunty of Concordia Moorhead, where Prunty won with a 10-6 decision. In the seventh-place contest, Kouchiu took on Micah Worthington of Linfield and posted a fall at 2:37 to finish his career with a victory.
Junior Peyton Smith (Milwaukee, Wis.) put up a fight in the consolation bracket at 197 pounds but fell in a sudden victory at 3-1 against Sam Melton of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Smith squared off against Jackson Punzel of Wheaton in the seventh-place bout and won with a medical forfeit.
The third-ranked Auggies of Augsburg won the team title with 176 points. In second place was No. 7 Wisconsin-La Crosse at 142.5 points and No. 18 Wisconsin-Eau Claire finished in third place at 128.5 points.
The NCAA Division III Championships will take place in Roanoke, Virginia on March 10 and 11.
