TRENTON, N.J. - SIUE 141-pounder Saul Ervin placed fourth at the Mid-American Conference Championships and has earned an automatic spot at the NCAA Championships to be held at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis March 18-20.
"Saul competed well both days. He probably would like to have his match back with Missouri, get an early takedown and change the tempo of the match," said SIUE Head Coach Jeremy Spates.
SIUE finished 10th as a team with 43.5 points. Missouri won the team title with 188.5 points.
"We're definitely a better team than we have been in the past," said Spates. "We got some guys on the podium, and we have everybody back for next season."
With Ervin already in, SIUE wrestling will have to wait until March 10 to see if any other Cougars make the field for the national championships.
Spates said Colton McKiernan, Justin Ruffin and Aaron Schulist appear to have a chance.
"They have enough qualifiers to put them in the discussion," said Spates. The NCAA full Selection Show is March 10 at 5 p.m. CT on NCAA.com. At-large bids are decided by the NCAA National Committee.
FINAL TEAM SCORES
1. Missouri 188.5
2. Central Michigan 129.0
3. Rider 120.5
4. Northern Illinois 90.0
5. Edinboro 80.0
6. Cleveland State 68.0
7. Clarion 57.5
8. Kent State 54.0
9. Buffalo 44.0
10. SIUE 43.5
11. George Mason 35.0
12. Ohio 34.0
13. Bloomsburg 28.5
14. Lock Haven 15.0
2021 MAC Wrestling Championships Results for SIUE
125 - Austin Macias
Champ. Round 1 - Lucas Rodriguez (Edinboro) won by decision over Austin Macias (SIUE) (Dec 5-3)
Cons. Round 1 - Austin Macias (SIUE) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 - Tristan Daugherty (Buffalo) won by decision over Austin Macias (SIUE) (Dec 3-0)
133 - Aaron Schulist (6th)
Champ. Round 1 - Aaron Schulist (SIUE) won by decision over Matthew Maloney (Lock Haven) (Dec 12-5)
Quarterfinal - Matt Schmitt (Missouri) won by tech fall over Aaron Schulist (SIUE) (TF 22-5)
Cons. Round 2 - Aaron Schulist (SIUE) won by fall over Justin Patrick (Cleveland State) (Fall 4:24)
Cons. Round 3 - Aaron Schulist (SIUE) won by fall over Andrew Marten (Central Michigan) (Fall 1:56)
Cons. Semi - Cole Rhone (Bloomsburg) won by decision over Aaron Schulist (SIUE) (Dec 10-8)
5th Place Match - Bryce West (Northern Illinois) won by injury default over Aaron Schulist (SIUE) (Inj. 0:00)
141 - Saul Ervin (4th)
Champ. Round 1 - Saul Ervin (SIUE) won by major decision over Shawn Nonaka (George Mason) (Maj 12-0)
Quarterfinal - Saul Ervin (SIUE) won by decision over Caleb Brooks (Northern Illinois) (Dec 10-3)
Semifinal - Dresden Simon (Central Michigan) won by decision over Saul Ervin (SIUE) (Dec 8-4)
Cons. Semi - Saul Ervin (SIUE) won by decision over Gabe Willochell (Edinboro) (Dec 7-3)
3rd Place Match - Allan Hart (Missouri) won by major decision over Saul Ervin (SIUE) (Maj 8-0)
149 - Cardeionte Wilson (8th)
Champ. Round 1 - Cardeionte Wilson (SIUE) won by decision over Corbyn Munson (Central Michigan) (Dec 11-6)
Quarterfinal - Anthony Cheloni (Northern Illinois) won by decision over Cardeionte Wilson (SIUE) (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 2 - Cardeionte Wilson (SIUE) won by major decision over Christian Gannone (Bloomsburg) (Maj 15-4)
Cons. Round 3 - Tyler Vath (Edinboro) won by injury default over Cardeionte Wilson (SIUE) (Inj. 0:00)
7th Place Match - Corbyn Munson (Central Michigan) won by forfeit over Cardeionte Wilson (SIUE) (FF)
157 - Justin Ruffin
Champ. Round 1 - Justin Ruffin (SIUE) won by decision over Daniel Segura (George Mason) (Dec 6-1)
Quarterfinal - Johnny Lovett (Central Michigan) won by injury default over Justin Ruffin (SIUE) (Inj. 2:46)
Cons. Round 2 - Alex Carida (Bloomsburg) won by injury default over Justin Ruffin (SIUE) (Inj. 0:00)
165 - Chase Diehl
Champ. Round 1 - Riley Smucker (Cleveland State) won by decision over Chase Diehl (SIUE) (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 1 - Chase Diehl (SIUE) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 - Jake Silverstein (Rider) won by fall over Chase Diehl (SIUE) (Fall 0:49)
174 - Kevin Gschwendtner
Champ. Round 1 - Jacob Oliver (Edinboro) won by decision over Kevin Gschwendtner (SIUE) (Dec 10-8)
Cons. Round 1 - John Worthing (Clarion) won in sudden victory - 1 over Kevin Gschwendtner (SIUE) (SV-1 11-9)
184 - Ryan Yarnell (8th)
Champ. Round 1 - Ryan Yarnell (SIUE) won by major decision over Giuseppe Hoose (Buffalo) (Maj 12-0)
Quarterfinal - Brit Wilson (Northern Illinois) won by major decision over Ryan Yarnell (SIUE) (Maj 10-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Ryan Yarnell (SIUE) won by decision over Tyler Bates (Kent State) (Dec 5-2)
Cons. Round 3 - Max Wohlabaugh (Clarion) won by decision over Ryan Yarnell (SIUE) (Dec 5-2)
7th Place Match - Ben Cushman (Central Michigan) won by decision over Ryan Yarnell (SIUE) (Dec 13-6)
197 - Sergio Villalobos
Champ. Round 1 - Greg Bulsak (Clarion) won by fall over Sergio Villalobos (SIUE) (Fall 4:42)
Cons. Round 1 - Gage Braun (Northern Illinois) won by decision over Sergio Villalobos (SIUE) (Dec 10-6)
285 - Colton McKiernan (6th)
Champ. Round 1 - Colton McKiernan (SIUE) received a bye
Quarterfinal - Zach Elam (Missouri) won by decision over Colton McKiernan (SIUE) (Dec 5-1)
Cons. Round 2 - Colton McKiernan (SIUE) won by decision over John Kelbly (Cleveland State) (Dec 3-1)
Cons. Round 3 - Colton McKiernan (SIUE) won in the ultimate tie breaker over Max Ihry (Northern Illinois) (UTB 5-4)
Cons. Semi - Jon Spaulding (Edinboro) won by decision over Colton McKiernan (SIUE) (Dec 3-0)
5th Place Match - Sam Schuyler (Buffalo) won by decision over Colton McKiernan (SIUE) (Dec 7-5)
