Mike Bare
By SIUE Athletics
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Three SIUE wrestlers were double winners on opening day of the South Beach Duals.
Tyshawn Williams, Justin Ruffin and Christian Dulaney all won both of their respective matches. As a team, the Cougars lost a pair of matches, dropping a 28-11 decision to Michigan State and 23-14 to Kent State in a Mid-American Conference battle.
“Overall, we wrestled really hard,” said SIUE Head Coach Jeremy Spates. “Those three guys came away with big wins. Finding a way to get your hand raised is a big thing.”
Williams, a 149-pounder, picked up the first SIUE victory of the day with a 10-6 decision over Jaden Enriquez. He later bested Kent State’s Kody Komara 6-3.
Ruffin, a 157-pounder, earned a close victory over Michigan State’s Jake Tucker 2-1 and defeated Kent State’s Richard Jackson 7-2.
Dulaney earned two victories with a 10-7 decision over Michigan State’s Brad Wilton and 12-6 over Kent State’s Shane Mast.
Nate Higgins collected a win early in the day with a 13-7 triumph over Michigan State’s Gary Ritchie.
Colton McKiernan closed the day with his first collegiate pin against an NCAA Division I opponent, a 1 minute, 6 second dismissal of Kent State’s Spencer Berthold.
“We’re hoping to clean up some things and have a better day tomorrow,” added Spates.
The South Beach Duals continue Sunday as SIUE wrestles Virginia at 10 a.m. CT followed by Wyoming at noon CT.
Michigan State 28 SIUE 11
125 – RayVon Foley (MSU) def. Austin Macias (SIUE), 15-0
133 – Anthony Tutolo (MSU) pinned Jacob Blaha (SIUE), 4:50
141 – Austin Eicher (MSU) def. Lucas Bernal (SIUE), 11-0
149 – Tyshawn Williams (SIUE) def. Jaden Enriquez (MSU), 10-6
157 – Justin Ruffin (SIUE) def. Jake Tucker (MSU), 2-1
165 – Nate Higgins (SIUE) def. Gary (Logan) Ritchie (MSU), 13-7
174 – Drew Hughes (MSU) pinned Kevin Gschwendtner (SIUE), 1:56
184 – Cameron Caffey (MSU) def. Sergio Villalobos (SIUE), 11-3
197 – Christian Dulaney (SIUE) def. Brad Wilton (Michigan State), 10-7
285 – Christian Rebottaro (MSU) def. Colton McKiernan (SIUE), 13-7
SIUE’s team score was adjusted by -1.0
Kent State 23 SIUE 14
125 – Jake Ferri (KSU) def. Austin Macias (SIUE), 15-5
133 – Timothy Rooney (KSU) def. Jacob Blaha (SIUE), 18-2
141 – Cory Simpson (KSU) def. Lucas Bernal (SIUE), 12-8
149 – Tyshawn Williams (SIUE) def. Kody Komara (KSU), 6-3
157 – Justin Ruffin (SIUE) def. Richard Jackson (KSU), 7-2
165 – Isaac Bast (KSU) def. Nate Higgins (SIUE), 12-4
174 – Dylan Barreiro (KSU) def. Kevin Gschwendtner (SIUE), 8-4
184 – Andrew McNally (KSU) def. Sergio Villalobos (SIUE), 14-5
197 – Christian Dulaney (SIUE) def. Shane Mast (KSU), 12-6
285 – Colton McKiernan (SIUE) pinned Spencer Berthold (KSU), 1:06
SIUE’s team score was adjusted by -1.0
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