Deakin, Rivera Shine In Final Session Of #Midlands55

Mike Bare December 30, 2017, 10:21 pm 8.5k Views 175 Votes

By Northwestern Athletics

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Redshirt first years Sebastian Rivera (125) and Ryan Deakin (149) dominated their final bouts of the 55th Ken Kraft Midlands Championships on Saturday night, both earning third-place finishes in the prestigious open tournament.

Rivera came back with a chip on his shoulder after falling to eventual champion Nick Suriano in the semifinals this morning, and throttled West Virginia’s Zeke Moisey, the 19th-ranked wrestler in the nation, 15-2.

What led @Cbass_Rivera to his third-place finish at #Midlands55?

One big factor — his relationship with coach @CodyBrewer133. @cattkennebeck reports. #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/cTLx4M9uCj

— Northwestern Wrestling (@NUWrestle) December 31, 2017

Deakin, despite suffering an early takedown at the hands of his foe Pat Lugo, came back strong. He finished with an 8-5 decision and finished in the top-four for his second-straight season.

Two years, two top-four finishes for @RyanDeakinn.

What's working right for the redshirt first year? @CattKennebeck checks in. #B1GCats #Midlands55 pic.twitter.com/57NHsi6tE6

— Northwestern Wrestling (@NUWrestle) December 31, 2017

Rivera and Deakin’s finishes mark the first time that Northwestern has had at least two grapplers finish in the top-three since Jason Tsirtsis, Pierce Harger, and Mike McMullan did so in 2014.

Northwestern finished in sixth place overall, the best team finish since 2013.

Redshirt junior Conan Jennings placed for the second-straight year, taking a career-best fifth place after benefiting from a medical forfeit by Amar Dhesi of Oregon State.

True first year Colin Valdiviez (133), wrestling in his first-ever Midlands, dropped a 6-2 decision to ranked Dylan Duncan (Illinois), and finished sixth overall.

The #B1GCats are back in action as they resume dual season at Illinois on Jan. 7, 2018, in Champaign, Illinois.

Session IV

3rd Place
125: (5) Sebastian Rivera (NU) maj. dec. (9) Zeke Moisey (West Virginia), 15-2
149: (6) Ryan Deakin (NU) dec. (10) Pat Lugo (Iowa-unattached), 8-5

5th Place
133: (4) Dylan Duncan (Illinois) dec. Colin Valdiviez (NU), 6-2
285: (6) Conan Jennings (NU) w/ med. for. (3) Amar Dhesi (Oregon State)