INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Ben Tonnessen of the Adams State men's wrestling team emerged as the standout performer at the 44th annual Midwest Classic held at the University of Indianapolis over the weekend. Renowned as a precursor to the National Tournament, the Midwest Classic boasted a competitive field with 19 ranked teams and over 100 ranked wrestlers.
As a team, the Grizzlies finished in 16th place by scoring 52.5 points.
Among the ten Grizzlies in contention, Tonnessen stood alone, securing a commendable fifth-place finish in the 197-pound category. His remarkable journey included a lightning-fast victory in his first match within 33 seconds, followed by dominant performances in the next two rounds. Although he faced a setback in the semifinal with a 4-2 decision against him and the consolation semifinal, Tonnessen rebounded in securing a fifth-place finish with a 4-2 decision victory.
Adam Conception represented the Grizzlies in the 125-pound division, achieving a 1-2 record, with his sole win coming from a well-fought 9-6 decision over Carlo Arreola of Southwest Minnesota State.
Dale Van Matre amassed 6.5 points at 133 pounds, boasting a 2-2 record, with both victories achieved by falls.
Angel Flores, competing at 141 pounds, contributed nine team points, going 4-2 in the tournament with two wins by falls and one by tech fall (22-4).
In the 149-pound bracket,
Travis Vialpando earned two points, securing a 1-2 record, with his lone win being an impressive 18-0 tech fall.
Nico Carrasco, wrestling at 157 pounds, earned three points, navigating through the consolations with three consecutive victories before exiting the competition.
Aaden Valdez, competing at 165 pounds, showed resilience, finishing the tournament with a 3-2 record, including a fall.
Samuel Loera faced tough competition at 174 pounds, going 0-2, while
Hunter Tobiasson earned three points at 184 pounds.
Representing the Grizzlies in the 285-pound category, Will Aucoin showcased his prowess, accumulating 7.5 points with a 4-2 weekend record, including two victories by falls.
Adams State will utilize the 19-day holiday break to prepare for four duals over two days at Western State Colorado.
