ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The challenging journey through stacked weight class brackets started for 14 qualifiers from Great Midwest Athletic Conference at the 2021 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship on Friday.
 
Action on six different mats started at 1 p.m. ET from the America’s Convention Center as at least one different wrestler was represented from the league at all 10 weight classes.
 
The best-of-the-best in Division II went at each other and even though each wrestler has two ‘lives’ so to speak, navigating back into contention after that first loss in the consolation bracket is no easy task.
 
The national championship in the sport of wrestling caps a delayed regular season for all six programs in the Great Midwest, associate member Ashland, Findlay, Kentucky Wesleyan, Lake Erie and Tiffin. All five of those programs competed at the Great Midwest Championship hosted by KWC back in January.
 
National qualifiers were decided through competition at the Super Regionals and the national committee announced the entire tournament field shortly after.
 
Tiffin hosted Super Region III towards the tail end of February in the Heminger Center.
 
Findlay’s James Wimer, seeded No. 1 at 157 pounds, is alive in the championship bracket after a pair of victories by decision. The possibility looms ahead for the 2021 Great Midwest Wrestler of the Meet that he could possibly rematch from an early-season tussle against UIndy’s Dawson Combest.
 
Wimer had the upper hand in that matchup via major decision in the first dual of the season for the Oilers at UIndy.  
 
Ashland’s Daniel Beemer was the individual conference champion at 174 pounds and after advancement from a first-round bye, defeated McKendree’s Josh Jones in sudden victory. Jones was ranked fourth nationally.
 
Several other wrestlers are working their way back with momentum in the wrestlebacks. Ashland’s Christian Wellman carved out two consolation wins at 125, including one in sudden victory, to stay alive.
 
Findlay’s sophomore Branson Proudlock picked up a first-round win and is guaranteed All-American status following a 7-5 SV win. Likewise for Ashland’s Carson Speelman at 149 as he went 2-1 on Friday.
 
Two-time Great Midwest Wrestler of the Week Aidan Pasiuk roared back from a tough defeat to open at 184. Pasiuk earned two straight consolation wins and faces Nebraska-Kearney’s Austin Eldredge in Saturday Session II.
 
Lake Erie’s Chris Droege has also worked his way back at 197 with back-to-back wins in the wrestlebacks. Ashland’s Tristan Weirich is in the same situation after a first-round defeat, but still in contention.
 
Friday Results
125 Pounds
Paxton Rosen (Central Oklahoma) def. Christian Wellman (Ashland), 7-2
Christian Wellman (Ashland) def. Zach Shupp (Newberry), 9-4
Christian Wellman (Ashland) def. Josh Portillo (Nebraska-Kearney), 4-2 (SV2)
Saturday: Christian Wellman (Ashland) vs. Isaiah De La Cerda (Adams State)
 
133 Pounds
Tanner Hitchock (Lindenwood) def. Zane Johnson (Lake Erie), 9-4
Jacob Dunlop (Gannon) def. Zane Johnson (Lake Erie), 3-2
 
141 Pounds
Colby Smith (Lindenwood) def. Luke Wymer (Ashland), 12-0 (MD)
Nick James (Nebraska-Kearney) def. Luke Wymer (Ashland), 6-4
Branson Proudlock (Findlay) def. Christian Small (King), 4-1
Isiah Royal (Newberry) def. Branson Proudlock (Findlay), 5-3
Branson Proudlock (Findlay) def. Peter Kuster (Drury), 7-5 (SV1)
Saturday: Branson Proudlock (Findlay) vs. Tate Murty (Upper Iowa)
 
149 Pounds
Carson Speelman (Ashland) def. Craig Cook (Davis & Elkins), 3-2
Noah Hermosillo (Adams State) def. Carson Speelman (Ashland), 4-3
Carson Speelman (Ashland) def. Dalton Flint (Emmanuel), 6-3
Saturday: Carson Speelman (Ashland) vs. Kyle Rathman (Minnesota State-Mankato)
Garrett Aldrich (St. Cloud State) def. Sean O’Hearon (Lake Erie), 15-4 (MD)
Sean O’Hearon (Lake Erie) def. Gabe Johnson (Central Oklahoma), Fall 4:13
Jacob Ealy (Pitt-Johnstown) def. Sean O’Hearon (Lake Erie), 12-7
 
157 Pounds
James Wimer (Findlay) def. Colby Njos (St. Cloud State), 2-0
James Wimer (Findlay) def. Nick Young (Gannon), 11-4
Saturday: James Wimer (Findlay) vs. Ty Lucas (Central Oklahoma)
 
165 Pounds
Matt Malcom (Nebraska-Kearney) def. James Penfold (Lake Erie), 11-3 (MD)
Baltazar Gonzalez (American International) def. James Penfold (Lake Erie), 18-7 (MD)
John Dean (Belmont Abbey) def. Bryan LaVearn (Tiffin), 9-7
Kameron Frame (Newberry) def. Bryan LaVearn (Tiffin), Fall 5:18
 
174 Pounds
Daniel Beemer (Ashland) def. Josh Jones (McKendree), 3-1 (SV1)
Saturday: Daniel Beemer (Ashland) vs. Abner Romero (Lindenwood)
 
184 Pounds
Bailey Kelly (Maryville) def. Aidan Pasiuk (Ashland), 16-4 (MD)
Aidan Pasiuk (Ashland) def. Trevor Begin (Mercyhurst), 11-5
Aidan Pasiuk (Ashland) def. Kyle Wojtaszek (Davis & Elkins), 15-3 (MD)
Saturday: Aidan Pasiuk (Ashland) vs. Austin Eldredge (Nebraska-Kearney)
 
197 Pounds
Jackson Ryan (Southwest Minnesota State) def. Nick Mason (Tiffin), 10-8
Joseph Reimers (Nebraska-Kearney) def. Nick Mason (Tiffin), Fall 5:45
Donald Negus (Colorado Mesa) def. Chris Droege (Lake Erie), 12-3 (MD)
Chris Droege (Lake Erie) def. Darius Parker (Lander), 9-8
Chris Droege (Lake Erie) def. Bryce Walker (UNC-Pembroke), 10-6
Saturday: Chris Droege (Lake Erie) vs. Joseph Reimers (Nebraska-Kearney)
 
HWT
Steven Hajas (Augustana) def. Tristan Weirich (Ashland), 4-1
Tristan Weirich (Ashland) def. Freddie Nixon (Gannon), 3-2
Saturday: Tristan Weirich (Ashland) vs. Francesco Borsellino (West Liberty)