FAIRFAX, Va. - SIUE's Colton McKiernan was on the mat competitively for 21 minutes in three matches over two days, and he never gave up a single point.

Better still, the senior heavyweight from Richmond, Michigan, became the first SIUE wrestler to win a Mid-American Conference individual title after defeating Northern Illinois' Terrese Aaron 2-0 in the championship match Saturday at EagleBank Arena.

"Colt wrestled well," said SIUE Head Coach Jeremy Spates. "He did a good job with sticking to his game plan and making guys wrestle his style. He didn't score a lot of points but he was offensive the whole time and was leading the charge."

SIUE finished 10th as a team and had five wrestlers finish in the top six. Aaron Schulist placed fifth at 133 pounds. Saul Ervin took fourth at 141 pounds. Caleb Tyus finished sixth at 149 pounds. Cardi Wilson placed sixth at 165 pounds.

McKiernan, 27-3, was the lone SIUE wrestler to walk away from the MAC Championships with a guaranteed spot in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships to be held March 17-19 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Cougars appear to have two more possibilities to join McKiernan at the national championships.

"Saul and Caleb will be in the wild card pool," said Spates. "A lot of it will depend on what happened at the other conference championships."

MAC Tournament Results for SIUE

125
Austin Macias
Champ. Round 1 - Oscar Sanchez (Ohio) 13-18 won by decision over Austin Macias (SIUE) 5-14 (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 1 - Austin Macias (SIUE) 5-14 received a bye
Cons. Round 2 - Tyler Klinsky (Rider) 17-14 won by decision over Austin Macias (SIUE) 5-14 (Dec 11-9)

133
Aaron Schulist (5th)
Champ. Round 1 - Aaron Schulist (SIUE) 11-9 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Aaron Schulist (SIUE) 11-9 won by fall over Vincent Perez (Central Michigan) 13-20 (Fall 1:26)
Semifinal - Gable Strickland (Lock Haven) 27-9 won by major decision over Aaron Schulist (SIUE) 11-9 (MD 11-2)
Cons. Semi - Louis Newell (Kent State) 11-12 won by decision over Aaron Schulist (SIUE) 11-9 (Dec 10-4)
5th Place Match - Aaron Schulist (SIUE) 11-9 won by decision over Vincent Perez (Central Michigan) 13-20 (Dec 10-5)

141
Saul Ervin (4th)
Champ. Round 1 - Saul Ervin (SIUE) 18-8 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Saul Ervin (SIUE) 18-8 won by decision over Jack Marlow (Buffalo) 5-17 (Dec 6-2)
Semifinal - Seth Koleno (Clarion) 22-9 won by fall over Saul Ervin (SIUE) 18-8 (Fall 0:57)
Cons. Semi - Saul Ervin (SIUE) 18-8 won by fall over Caleb Rea (Cleveland State) 14-7 (Fall 5:00)
3rd Place Match - Jaivon Jones (Northern Illinois) 19-10 won by decision over Saul Ervin (SIUE) 18-8 (Dec 2-0)

149
Caleb Tyus
Champ. Round 1 - Caleb Tyus (SIUE) 23-7 won by fall over Cade Balestrini (Bloomsburg) 16-19 (Fall 5:24)
Quarterfinal - Caleb Tyus (SIUE) 23-7 won by decision over Kyle Schickel (Clarion) 14-15 (Dec 6-0)
Semifinal - Johnny Lovett (Central Michigan) 19-9 won by decision over Caleb Tyus (SIUE) 23-7 (Dec 5-4)
Cons. Semi - Quinn Kinner (Rider) 24-7 won by decision over Caleb Tyus (SIUE) 23-7 (Dec 4-0)
5th Place Match - Alec Hagan (Ohio) 21-14 won by decision over Caleb Tyus (SIUE) 23-7 (Dec 4-3)

157
Caine Tyus
Champ. Round 1 - Peter Pappas (George Mason) 23-3 won by decision over Caine Tyus (SIUE) 4-15 (Dec 8-4)
Cons. Round 1 - Caine Tyus (SIUE) 4-15 received a bye
Cons. Round 2 - Anthony Gibson (Northern Illinois) 14-11 won by decision over Caine Tyus (SIUE) 4-15 (Dec 7-1)

165
Cardi Wilson (6th)
Champ. Round 1 - Cardi Wilson (SIUE) 13-9 won by decision over Marcus Petite (Buffalo) 4-7 (Dec 5-2)
Quarterfinal - Avery Bassett (Lock Haven) 16-5 won by decision over Cardi Wilson (SIUE) 13-9 (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Cardi Wilson (SIUE) 13-9 won by decision over Daniel Patten (Cleveland State) 11-12 (Dec 8-3)
Cons. Round 3 - Cardi Wilson (SIUE) 13-9 won by decision over Cameron Pine (Clarion) 24-9 (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Semi - Tracy Hubbard (Central Michigan) 17-16 won by fall over Cardi Wilson (SIUE) 13-9 (Fall 4:26)
5th Place Match - Jordan Slivka (Ohio) 13-13 won by decision over Cardi Wilson (SIUE) 13-9 (Dec 6-1)

174
Chase Diehl
Champ. Round 1 - Jared McGill (Edinboro) 16-4 won by major decision over Chase Diehl (SIUE) 8-17 (MD 11-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Chase Diehl (SIUE) 8-17 received a bye
Cons. Round 2 - Jay Nivison (Buffalo) 7-11 won by decision over Chase Diehl (SIUE) 8-17 (Dec 3-2)

184
Sergio Villalobos
Champ. Round 1 - Zayne Lehman (Ohio) 20-10 won by tech fall over Sergio Villalobos (SIUE) 7-16 (TF-1.5 6:30 (15-0))
Cons. Round 1 - Sergio Villalobos (SIUE) 7-16 received a bye
Cons. Round 2 - Malachi DuVall (George Mason) 23-9 won by fall over Sergio Villalobos (SIUE) 7-16 (Fall 1:16)

197
Ryan Yarnell
Champ. Round 1 - Ryan Yarnell (SIUE) 17-13 won by decision over Jon List (George Mason) 16-17 (Dec 4-0)
Quarterfinal - Sam Mitchell (Buffalo) 15-8 won by decision over Ryan Yarnell (SIUE) 17-13 (Dec 7-4)
Cons. Round 2 - Cameron Wood (Central Michigan) 13-22 won in sudden victory - 1 over Ryan Yarnell (SIUE) 17-13 (SV-1 5-3)

285
Colton McKiernan
Champ. Round 1 - Colton McKiernan (SIUE) 27-3 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Colton McKiernan (SIUE) 27-3 won by major decision over Donovan Sprouse (George Mason) 7-16 (MD 10-0)
Semifinal - Colton McKiernan (SIUE) 27-3 won by decision over Daniel Bucknavich (Cleveland State) 21-10 (Dec 2-0)
1st Place Match - Colton McKiernan (SIUE) 27-3 won by decision over Terrese Aaron (Northern Illinois) 11-15 (Dec 2-0)

Team Scores
1 Lock Haven 112.5
2 Central Michigan 110.0
3 Clarion 92.0
4 Ohio 87.5
5 Rider 86.0
6 George Mason 83.0
7 Cleveland State 81.5
8 Northern Illinois 77.5
9 Kent State 68.0
10 SIUE 63.5
11 Buffalo 48.5
12 Edinboro 32.5
13 Bloomsburg 20.5