The Wabash College wrestling team finished tenth out of 16 teams at the annual Midwest Classic, hosted by the University of Indianapolis January 3-4. The Little Giants scored 48.5 points at the Classic with five wrestlers placing in the top eight in their weight classes.
Junior Chris Healy (Jasper, IN/Jasper) was the top individual performer for the Little Giants. The 174-pounder went 4-1 at the two-day tournament to finish third overall after being seeded fourth at the beginning of the event. Healy opened with a 15-3 win in his opening match, then claimed a 16-4 victory over Wisconsin-Parkside's Ben Thiem. NCAA Division II wrestler Tommy Bauer, the top seed in the tournament from Ashland University, defeated Healy 12-8 in the quarterfinals to send Healy to the consolation bracket. Healy responded with a pin in the semifinals against Carson Newman's Nathan Jones, then won 8-1 over the number three seed, Brett Barbarick of Central Missouri State, to take home third place.
Freshman Garrett Pino (Indianapolis, IN/Lawrence North) was sixth at 141 pounds, finishing with a record of 3-2 for the weekend. Pino lost his opening match to Central Missouri State's Kyle Waag, but rallied for three consecutive wins. He defeated Cumberland's Clayton Crouse 12-4, followed by a 13-3 victory over ninth-seeded Jeremy Johnson of Fort Hays State. The freshman pinned fifth-seeded Mike Hanlin of Manchester in the quarterfinals before falling to Joe Hagedorn of West Liberty State (14-3). Pino lost to Waag 9-3 fo the second time, this time in the finals to take sixth place.
Sophomore Joe Seger (Jasper, IN/Jasper) won his opening match with an 8-4 decision at 184 pounds, but lost the top-seeded wrestler in the weight class in the second round to fall to the consolation bracket. Seger won three straight matches before losing 10-3 to finish sixth overall. Junior Adam Miller (Pendleton, IN/Pendleton Heights) finished eighth at 157 pounds, as did sophomore Kevin Meyer (Columbus, IN/Columbus North) at 165 pounds.
Ashland University won the Classic with 126 points. The University of Findlay was second (116.5), followed by Mercyhurst (96), Chadron State (95), and Wisconsin-Parkside (90). Central Missouri State (87) was sixth, Fort Hays State took seventh (81.5), with West Liberty State (71), and the host University of Indianapolis team (69), and Wabash rounding out the top ten.
Carson Newman and Manchester tied for 11th with 44 points. Ohio Northern was 13th, finishing with 14.5 points. SIU-Edwardsville (11.5), Cumberland (9), and Mount St. Joseph (0) completed the team scoring.