Wrestling takes 5th/14 at the Matman Invitational

by Ben Rodgers

MT. VERNON, Iowa – Simpson wrestling continued to show improvements as a program, taking 5th/14 at the Matman Invitation at Cornell College on Saturday, Jan. 17.

Wartburg College finished first, running away from the competition with a score of 149.5. Simpson earned 68 points to earn fifth place.

Other Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams such as Luther College, Central College, Coe College and Loras College competed.

Luther finished in seventh, the second highest finish for any IIAC team behind Simpson.

Five Simpson wrestlers finished in the top six for Simpson including Jacob Mize in third at 157 pounds, Jonathan Melton in fourth at 149.

Zach Johnston (133), Devan Berrian (141) and Brett Roberts (174) all took sixth.

Unfortunately for Berrian and the Storm, the freshman from Florida had to withdraw from the tournament due to an injury.

Prior to the injury, Berrian was in position for competing for the championship in his weight.

Mize went 6-1 on the day, Berrian finished 3-0, Melton and Johnston both went 3-2, and Roberts was even at 3-3.

Clay Harris also had a respectable showing, going 2-2.

13 Simpson wrestlers competed on Saturday, with only one not recording a victory.

Storm wrestling will take a week off before hosting the first half of the annual Iowa Conference duals on Jan. 24.

Coe, Loras and Luther will all come to Cowles Fieldhouse for the dual.