BUFFALO, N.Y. – SIUE wrestling placed third at the 2026 Mid-American Conference Championships, its best-ever finish.
SIUE, which took seventh as its best previous team finish in 2017, collected a school-record eight placewinners at the MAC Championships.
Caleb Tyus and Brock Woodcock earned automatic bids to the NCAA Championships, which will be held March 19-21 in Cleveland, Ohio. Tyus placed second at 149 pounds. Woodcock took third place but won a true second-place match over Northern Illinois' Brett Smith at 165 pounds to secure his spot.
The Cougars are in line for wild card spots to the NCAA Championships. Those wild card spots will be revealed on the 2026 Division I Men's Wrestling Selection Show, which will air Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT on NCAA.com. A link to the show will be on the front page of NCAA.com. SIUE is looking to add 133-pounder Marcel Lopez, who placed fifth in a strong field, and 285-pounder Bryson Buhk, who advanced to the finals but was later defeated in a true second-place match.
Buhk and Tyus both were honored as second team All-MAC.
SIUE scored 88 team points behind the efforts fellow MAC top-six finishers Drew Davis (125/6th), Ben Lunn (141/5th), Dominic Lopez (174/5th), and Nick Nosler (197/5th).
Final Team Standings
1. Rider, 102.0
2. Lock Haven, 100.0
3. SIUE, 88.0
4. Edinboro 83.0
5. Northern Illinois, 75.5
6. Central Michigan, 65.5
7. Ohio, 64.5
8. George Mason, 61.5
9. Kent State, 43.0
10. Bloomsburg, 39.5
11. Buffalo, 24.5
12. Clarion, 22.0
2026 MAC Wrestling Championship Title Matches
125 lbs.: Tyler Klinsky (Rider) def. Chris Vargo (Edinboro) MD 11-3
133 lbs.: Markel Baker (Northern Illinois) def. Will Betancourt (Rider) Dec. 2-1
141 lbs.: Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven) def. Elijah Griffin (Rider) SV-1 4-1
149 lbs.: Lucas Kapusta (Lock Haven) def. Caleb Tyus (SIUE) Dec. 2-1
157 lbs.: Derek Raike (Ohio) def. Garrett McChesney (Edinboro) TB-1 2-1
165 lbs.: Chris Earnest (Kent State) def. Brett Smith (Northern Illinois) Dec. 2-0
174 lbs.: Logan Messer (George Mason) def. Enrique Munguia (Rider) MD 13-5
184 lbs.: Sal Perrine (Ohio) def. Malachi DuVall (George Mason) 12-3
197 lbs.: Zayne Lehman (Ohio) def. Blake Schaffer (Kent State) Dec. 5-4
285 lbs.: Devin Dawson (Northern Illinois) def. Bryson Buhk (SIUE) Dec. 12-8
All-MAC First Team
Tyler Klinsky, Rider
Markel Baker, Northern Illinois
Wyatt Henson, Lock Haven
Lucas Kapusta, Lock Haven
Derek Raike, Ohio
Chris Earnest, Kent State
Logan Messer, George Mason
Sal Perrine, Ohio
Zayne Lehman, Ohio
Devin Dawson, Northern Illinois
All-MAC Second Team
Chris Vargo, Edinboro
Will Betancourt, Rider
Elijah Griffin, Rider
Caleb Tyus, SIUE
Garrett McChesney, Edinboro
Brett Smith, Northern Illinois
Enrique Munguia, Rider
Malachi DuVall, George Mason
Blake Schaffer, Kent State
Bryson Buhk, SIUE
2026 MAC Wrestling Championships Results for SIUE
125
Drew Davis (8-13) placed 6th and scored 7.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Drew Davis (SIUE) 8-13 won by major decision over Zach Belverio (Buffalo) 6-15 (MD 12-2)
Quarterfinal - Drew Davis (SIUE) 8-13 won in sudden victory - 1 over Blake West (Northern Illinois) 20-7 (SV-1 4-1)
Semifinal - Chris Vargo (Edinboro) 11-9 won in sudden victory - 1 over Drew Davis (SIUE) 8-13 (SV-1 4-1)
Cons. Semi - Jace Schafer (Bloomsburg) 17-8 won by decision over Drew Davis (SIUE) 8-13 (Dec 2-0)
5th Place Match - Archer Anderson (Central Michigan) 11-11 won by fall over Drew Davis (SIUE) 8-13 (Fall 0:59)
133
Marcel Lopez (21-6) placed 5th and scored 9.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Marcel Lopez (SIUE) 21-6 won by major decision over Ryan Meek (Ohio) 9-20 (MD 11-0)
Quarterfinal - Marcel Lopez (SIUE) 21-6 won by decision over Anthony Lucchiani (George Mason) 7-10 (Dec 9-7)
Semifinal - Will Betancourt (Rider) 22-8 won in sudden victory - 1 over Marcel Lopez (SIUE) 21-6 (SV-1 4-1)
Cons. Semi - Andrew Austin (Central Michigan) 20-13 won by decision over Marcel Lopez (SIUE) 21-6 (Dec 4-2)
5th Place Match - Marcel Lopez (SIUE) 21-6 won by decision over Nick Molchak (Kent St) 21-18 (Dec 5-1)
141
Ben Lunn (6-3) placed 5th and scored 9.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Ben Lunn (SIUE) 6-3 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Charles Curtis (Northern Illinois) 16-13 won by major decision over Ben Lunn (SIUE) 6-3 (MD 14-5)
Cons. Round 2 - Ben Lunn (SIUE) 6-3 won by major decision over Scott Johnson (Clarion) 13-11 (MD 15-6)
Cons. Round 3 - Ben Lunn (SIUE) 6-3 won by decision over Tyler Roark (Buffalo) 8-9 (Dec 9-2)
Cons. Semi - Jacob Brenneman (Edinboro) 13-11 won by major decision over Ben Lunn (SIUE) 6-3 (MD 14-3)
5th Place Match - Ben Lunn (SIUE) 6-3 won by tech fall over Tate Hisey (George Mason) 17-12 (TF-1.5 4:58 (15-0))
149
Caleb Tyus (22-2) placed 2nd and scored 13.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Caleb Tyus (SIUE) 22-2 won by decision over Silas Stits (Kent St) 20-13 (Dec 1-0)
Quarterfinal - Caleb Tyus (SIUE) 22-2 won by decision over Oliver Fairchild (Clarion) 13-16 (Dec 8-1)
Semifinal - Caleb Tyus (SIUE) 22-2 won in tie breaker - 1 over Dylan Layton (Rider) 25-8 (TB-1 2-1)
1st Place Match - Lucas Kapusta (Lock Haven) 25-4 won by decision over Caleb Tyus (SIUE) 22-2 (Dec 2-1)
157
Hayden Whidden (10-13) place is unknown and scored 0.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Hayden Whidden (SIUE) 10-13 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Derek Raike (Ohio) 21-5 won by major decision over Hayden Whidden (SIUE) 10-13 (MD 12-4)
Cons. Round 2 - Hayden Whidden (SIUE) 10-13 won in sudden victory - 1 over William Morrow (Bloomsburg) 7-16 (SV-1 4-1)
Cons. Round 3 - Nick Stampoulos (Lock Haven) 30-14 won by major decision over Hayden Whidden (SIUE) 10-13 (MD 12-3)
165
Brock Woodcock (21-6) placed 3rd and scored 17.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Brock Woodcock (SIUE) 21-6 won by major decision over Nick Kunstek (Lock Haven) 22-16 (MD 10-0)
Quarterfinal - Brock Woodcock (SIUE) 21-6 won by tech fall over Brendon Abdon (Rider) 13-16 (TF-1.5 4:49 (21-3))
Semifinal - Chris Earnest (Kent St) 19-6 won by decision over Brock Woodcock (SIUE) 21-6 (Dec 5-3)
Cons. Semi - Brock Woodcock (SIUE) 21-6 won by major decision over Nick Kunstek (Lock Haven) 22-16 (MD 8-0)
3rd Place Match - Brock Woodcock (SIUE) 21-6 won by fall over Chandler Amaker (Central Michigan) 18-16 (Fall 0:51)
True 2nd Match - Brock Woodcock (SIUE) 1-0 won by decision over Brett Smith (Northern Illinois) 0-1 (Dec 9-3)
174
Dominic Lopez (16-11) placed 5th and scored 10.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Dominic Lopez (SIUE) 16-11 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Avery Bassett (Lock Haven) 24-6 won by decision over Dominic Lopez (SIUE) 16-11 (Dec 6-1)
Cons. Round 2 - Dominic Lopez (SIUE) 16-11 won by major decision over Gabe Lilly (Clarion) 12-17 (MD 17-5)
Cons. Round 3 - Dominic Lopez (SIUE) 16-11 won by decision over Eric Alderfer (Bloomsburg) 17-7 (Dec 5-1)
Cons. Semi - Garrett Thompson (Ohio) 12-3 won by major decision over Dominic Lopez (SIUE) 16-11 (MD 12-1)
5th Place Match - Dominic Lopez (SIUE) 16-11 won by medical forfeit over Avery Bassett (Lock Haven) 24-6 (M. For.)
184
Deron Pulliam (12-4) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Deron Pulliam (SIUE) 12-4 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Sam Gautreau (Lock Haven) 25-10 won by decision over Deron Pulliam (SIUE) 12-4 (Dec 9-5)
Cons. Round 2 - Adrian Gacek (Clarion) 15-14 won by decision over Deron Pulliam (SIUE) 12-4 (Dec 9-8)
197
Nick Nosler (15-11) placed 5th and scored 9.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Nick Nosler (SIUE) 15-11 won by decision over Brody Evans (Edinboro) 11-9 (Dec 11-10)
Quarterfinal - Tucker Hogan (Lock Haven) 21-13 won by tech fall over Nick Nosler (SIUE) 15-11 (TF-1.5 5:30 (15-0))
Cons. Round 2 - Nick Nosler (SIUE) 15-11 won by decision over Spencer Mooberry (Northern Illinois) 7-10 (Dec 5-1)
Cons. Round 3 - Nick Nosler (SIUE) 15-11 won by major decision over Jack Kelly (George Mason) 18-18 (MD 9-1)
Cons. Semi - Brock Zurawski (Rider) 21-5 won by tech fall over Nick Nosler (SIUE) 15-11 (TF-1.5 5:32 (17-2))
5th Place Match - Nick Nosler (SIUE) 15-11 won by decision over Brody Evans (Edinboro) 11-9 (Dec 5-3)
285
Bryson Buhk (14-10) placed 2nd and scored 13.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Bryson Buhk (SIUE) 14-10 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Bryson Buhk (SIUE) 14-10 won in sudden victory - 1 over Brentan Simmerman (Kent St) 14-11 (SV-1 2-1)
Semifinal - Bryson Buhk (SIUE) 14-10 won in sudden victory - 1 over John Meyers (Clarion) 9-8 (SV-1 2-1)
1st Place Match - Devon Dawson (Northern Illinois) 31-4 won by decision over Bryson Buhk (SIUE) 14-10 (Dec 12-8)
True 2nd Match - Mason Rebuck (Bloomsburg) 1-0 won by decision over Bryson Buhk (SIUE) 0-1 (Dec 11-8)
