Sunday, November 5
East Lansing, Mich.
All Day
Northwestern
at
Michigan State Open
Five NU Grapplers Place at Season-Opening MSU Open
11/5/2017 8:23:00 PM | Wrestling
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Highlighted by a pair of second-place finishes, the Wildcats wrapped up the season-opening Michigan State Open with five wrestlers finishing in the top-six on Sunday.
#8 Ryan Deakin and #14 Conan Jennings both picked up second-place finishes in the competition, with their only setback coming in the final bout. Deakin dropped a close, 4-3, decision to #6 Justin Oliver of Central Michigan, while Jennings was pinned by #2 Adam Coon of Michigan.
Mitch Sliga, ranked 17th in the nation by InterMat, was felled by #11 Ricky Robertson of Wisconsin in the third-place bout. Johnny Sebastian picked up his final win of the day against #15 Ryan Christensen (Wisconsin) in sudden victory, finishing in fifth place. Sebastian's day featured the fastest NU pin of the event, an 80 second downing of Isaac Ray (Manchester).
Zack Chakonis finished in sixth place, unable to wrestle in the fifth-place match as he had already wrestled in the NCAA-maximum six events.
Redshirt sophomore Alec McKenna picked up three wins on the day, all against Big Ten foes. He picked up a pair of pins on the day, over Ben Freeman (Michigan) and Brendan Fitzgerald (Ohio State).
Wrestling unattached, first-years Yahya Thomas and Colin Valdiviez both finished with three wins in five matches on Sunday. Thomas's day featured a pin of Purdue's Nate Limmex in the final round, while Valdiviez's day was highlighted by a 13-3 major decision of Ivan Clay (Notre Dame (Ohio)).
Chicago's Big Ten Team is back in action next Sunday, Nov. 12, wrestling against Old Dominion and Gardner Webb in Norfolk, Virginia, at 11 a.m.
Results
Michigan State Open
1st Place
149: #6 Justin Oliver (Central Michigan) dec. #8 Ryan Deakin (Northwestern), 4-3
285: #2 Adam Coon (Michigan) Fall #14 Conan Jennings (Northwestern), 1:43
3rd Place
184: #11 Ricky Robertson (Wisconsin) dec. #17 Mitchell Sliga (Northwestern), 4-0
5th Place
174: Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern) dec. #15 Ryan Christensen (Wisconsin), 3-1 (SV1)
197: Jackson Striggow (Michigan) def. Zack Chakonis (Northwestern) – Rule
Round of 4
149: #8 Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) maj. dec. Trey Grine (Tiffin), 8-0
184: #5 Domenic Abounader (Michigan) maj. dec. #17 Mitch Sliga (Northwestern), 12-1
285: #14 Conan Jennings (Northwestern) maj. dec. Newton Smerchek (Central Michigan), 10-0
Round of 8
149: #8 Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) dec. Zander Wick (Wisconsin), 6-2
174: Yoanse Mejias (Oklahoma) dec. Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern), 5-3
184: #17 Mitch Sliga (Northwestern) dec. Shwan Shadaia (Michigan State), 6-0
197: Jackson Striggow (Michigan) dec. Regis Durbin (Northwestern), 9-5
285: #14 Conan Jennings (Northwestern) Fall Mimmo Lytle (Findlay) Fall 4:40
Round of 16
133: Jerry Fenner III (Ashland) dec. Anthony Rubinetti (Northwestern), 7-0
141: Lincoln Olson (Central Michigan) dec. Alec McKenna (Northwestern), 7-3
141: #11 Javier Gasca III (Michigan State) dec. Yahya Thomas (Northwestern-unattached), 6-2
149: #8 Ryan Deakin maj. dec. Jordan Napier (Manchester), 8-0
157: #12 Colin Heffernan (Central Michigan) maj. dec. Shayne Oster (Northwestern), 12-4
157: Jake Tucker (Michigan State) Fall Eric Yang (Northwestern), 2:19
165: #6 Anthony Valencia (Arizona State) Fall Braxton Cody (Northwestern) 1:49
165: Dawaylon Barnes (Oklahoma) dec. Michael Sepke (Northwestern), 5-1
174: Jacob Covaciu (Wisconsin) dec. Luke Norland (Northwestern), 2-0
174: Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern) maj. dec. Christian Price (Ashland University), 10-1
184: #17 Mitch Sliga (Northwestern) Tech Fall Brendan Winning (Lake Erie), 17-1
197: Regis Durbin (Northwestern) dec. Landon Pelham (Central Michigan), 3-2
Round of 32
133: Ali Naser (Arizona State) dec. Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern-unattached), 7-6
141: Alec McKenna (Northwestern) Fall Ben Freeman (Michigan), 5:28
157: Jason Tsirtsis (Arizona State) def. Anthony Petrone (Northwestern) – forfeit
197: Jordan Atienza (Central Michigan) dec. Zack Chakonis (Northwestern), 5-3
Second Consolation Round:
133: Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern-unattached) dec. Michael Cullen (Wisconsin), 7-0
141: Yahya Thomas (Northwestern-unattached) dec. Chase Wilson (Manchester), 6-2
157: Shayne Oster (Northwestern) Fall John Leark (Olivet College), 1:50
157: Blake Montrie (Central Michigan) def. Anthony Petrone (Northwestern) – forfeit
157: Andres Gandara (Arizona State) dec. Eric Yang (Northwestern), 10-3
165: Jordon Tague (Notre Dame (Ohio)) Fall Braxton Cody (Northwestern), 1:15
165: Michael Sepke (Northwestern) dec. Alonzo Turner (Findlay), 3-2
174: #15 Ryan Christensen (Wisconsin) def. Luke Norland (Northwestern) – medical forfeit
174: Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern) Fall Isaac Ray (Manchester University), 1:20
197: Zack Chakonis (Northwestern) maj. dec. Armani Robinson (Findlay), 17-4
Third Consolation Round
133: Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern-unattached) dec. Anthony Rubinetti (Northwestern), 9-4
141: Alec McKenna (Northwestern) dec. Dylan Thurston (Illinois), 3-0
141: Yahya Thomas (Northwestern-unattached) Fall Nate Limmex (Purdue), 6:21
157: Justin Thomas (Oklahoma) dec. Shayne Oster (Northwestern), 4-2
165: Robert Janis (Notre Dame (Ohio)) dec. Michael Sepke (Northwestern), 4-2 (TB1)
174: Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern) Fall Dylan Lydy (Purdue University), 7:00
197: Zack Chakonis (Northwestern) dec. Jesse Palser (Lake Erie), 2-0
Fourth Consolation Round
133: Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern-unattached) maj. dec. Ivan McClay (Notre Dame (Ohio)), 13-3
141: Alec McKenna (Northwestern) Fall Brendan Fitzgerald (Ohio State), 5:33
141: Yahya Thomas (Northwestern-unattached) dec. Cole Martin (Wisconsin), 7-5 (TB1)
174: #12 C.J. Brucki (Central Michigan) dec. Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern), 7-5
197: Zack Chakonis (Northwestern) Fall Regis Durbin (Northwestern), 4:16
Fifth Consolation Round
133: Jacob Rubio (Oklahoma) dec. Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern-unattached), 6-2
141: Nikko Villarreal (Arizona State) dec. Alec McKenna (Northwestern), 7-3
141: Eli Stickley (Wisconsin) dec. Yahya Thomas (Northwestern-unattached), 4-1
197: Zack Chakonis (Northwestern) dec. Landon Pelham (Central Michigan), 10-8
Sixth Consolation Round
184: #17 Mitch Sliga (Northwestern) dec. Nick May (Michigan State), 9-2
Freshman/Sophomore
Round of 8
125: Brandon Courtney (Arizona State) Tech. Fall Dylan Utterback (Northwestern), 20-5
Round of 16
125: Dylan Utterback (Northwestern) Fall David Poff (Lake Erie), 1:47
Fourth Consolation Round
125: Donte River-Garcia (Muskegon CC) dec. Dylan Utterback (Northwestern), 10-7
#8 Ryan Deakin and #14 Conan Jennings both picked up second-place finishes in the competition, with their only setback coming in the final bout. Deakin dropped a close, 4-3, decision to #6 Justin Oliver of Central Michigan, while Jennings was pinned by #2 Adam Coon of Michigan.
Mitch Sliga, ranked 17th in the nation by InterMat, was felled by #11 Ricky Robertson of Wisconsin in the third-place bout. Johnny Sebastian picked up his final win of the day against #15 Ryan Christensen (Wisconsin) in sudden victory, finishing in fifth place. Sebastian's day featured the fastest NU pin of the event, an 80 second downing of Isaac Ray (Manchester).
Zack Chakonis finished in sixth place, unable to wrestle in the fifth-place match as he had already wrestled in the NCAA-maximum six events.
Redshirt sophomore Alec McKenna picked up three wins on the day, all against Big Ten foes. He picked up a pair of pins on the day, over Ben Freeman (Michigan) and Brendan Fitzgerald (Ohio State).
Wrestling unattached, first-years Yahya Thomas and Colin Valdiviez both finished with three wins in five matches on Sunday. Thomas's day featured a pin of Purdue's Nate Limmex in the final round, while Valdiviez's day was highlighted by a 13-3 major decision of Ivan Clay (Notre Dame (Ohio)).
Chicago's Big Ten Team is back in action next Sunday, Nov. 12, wrestling against Old Dominion and Gardner Webb in Norfolk, Virginia, at 11 a.m.
Results
Michigan State Open
1st Place
149: #6 Justin Oliver (Central Michigan) dec. #8 Ryan Deakin (Northwestern), 4-3
285: #2 Adam Coon (Michigan) Fall #14 Conan Jennings (Northwestern), 1:43
3rd Place
184: #11 Ricky Robertson (Wisconsin) dec. #17 Mitchell Sliga (Northwestern), 4-0
5th Place
174: Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern) dec. #15 Ryan Christensen (Wisconsin), 3-1 (SV1)
197: Jackson Striggow (Michigan) def. Zack Chakonis (Northwestern) – Rule
Round of 4
149: #8 Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) maj. dec. Trey Grine (Tiffin), 8-0
184: #5 Domenic Abounader (Michigan) maj. dec. #17 Mitch Sliga (Northwestern), 12-1
285: #14 Conan Jennings (Northwestern) maj. dec. Newton Smerchek (Central Michigan), 10-0
Round of 8
149: #8 Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) dec. Zander Wick (Wisconsin), 6-2
174: Yoanse Mejias (Oklahoma) dec. Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern), 5-3
184: #17 Mitch Sliga (Northwestern) dec. Shwan Shadaia (Michigan State), 6-0
197: Jackson Striggow (Michigan) dec. Regis Durbin (Northwestern), 9-5
285: #14 Conan Jennings (Northwestern) Fall Mimmo Lytle (Findlay) Fall 4:40
Round of 16
133: Jerry Fenner III (Ashland) dec. Anthony Rubinetti (Northwestern), 7-0
141: Lincoln Olson (Central Michigan) dec. Alec McKenna (Northwestern), 7-3
141: #11 Javier Gasca III (Michigan State) dec. Yahya Thomas (Northwestern-unattached), 6-2
149: #8 Ryan Deakin maj. dec. Jordan Napier (Manchester), 8-0
157: #12 Colin Heffernan (Central Michigan) maj. dec. Shayne Oster (Northwestern), 12-4
157: Jake Tucker (Michigan State) Fall Eric Yang (Northwestern), 2:19
165: #6 Anthony Valencia (Arizona State) Fall Braxton Cody (Northwestern) 1:49
165: Dawaylon Barnes (Oklahoma) dec. Michael Sepke (Northwestern), 5-1
174: Jacob Covaciu (Wisconsin) dec. Luke Norland (Northwestern), 2-0
174: Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern) maj. dec. Christian Price (Ashland University), 10-1
184: #17 Mitch Sliga (Northwestern) Tech Fall Brendan Winning (Lake Erie), 17-1
197: Regis Durbin (Northwestern) dec. Landon Pelham (Central Michigan), 3-2
Round of 32
133: Ali Naser (Arizona State) dec. Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern-unattached), 7-6
141: Alec McKenna (Northwestern) Fall Ben Freeman (Michigan), 5:28
157: Jason Tsirtsis (Arizona State) def. Anthony Petrone (Northwestern) – forfeit
197: Jordan Atienza (Central Michigan) dec. Zack Chakonis (Northwestern), 5-3
Second Consolation Round:
133: Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern-unattached) dec. Michael Cullen (Wisconsin), 7-0
141: Yahya Thomas (Northwestern-unattached) dec. Chase Wilson (Manchester), 6-2
157: Shayne Oster (Northwestern) Fall John Leark (Olivet College), 1:50
157: Blake Montrie (Central Michigan) def. Anthony Petrone (Northwestern) – forfeit
157: Andres Gandara (Arizona State) dec. Eric Yang (Northwestern), 10-3
165: Jordon Tague (Notre Dame (Ohio)) Fall Braxton Cody (Northwestern), 1:15
165: Michael Sepke (Northwestern) dec. Alonzo Turner (Findlay), 3-2
174: #15 Ryan Christensen (Wisconsin) def. Luke Norland (Northwestern) – medical forfeit
174: Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern) Fall Isaac Ray (Manchester University), 1:20
197: Zack Chakonis (Northwestern) maj. dec. Armani Robinson (Findlay), 17-4
Third Consolation Round
133: Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern-unattached) dec. Anthony Rubinetti (Northwestern), 9-4
141: Alec McKenna (Northwestern) dec. Dylan Thurston (Illinois), 3-0
141: Yahya Thomas (Northwestern-unattached) Fall Nate Limmex (Purdue), 6:21
157: Justin Thomas (Oklahoma) dec. Shayne Oster (Northwestern), 4-2
165: Robert Janis (Notre Dame (Ohio)) dec. Michael Sepke (Northwestern), 4-2 (TB1)
174: Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern) Fall Dylan Lydy (Purdue University), 7:00
197: Zack Chakonis (Northwestern) dec. Jesse Palser (Lake Erie), 2-0
Fourth Consolation Round
133: Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern-unattached) maj. dec. Ivan McClay (Notre Dame (Ohio)), 13-3
141: Alec McKenna (Northwestern) Fall Brendan Fitzgerald (Ohio State), 5:33
141: Yahya Thomas (Northwestern-unattached) dec. Cole Martin (Wisconsin), 7-5 (TB1)
174: #12 C.J. Brucki (Central Michigan) dec. Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern), 7-5
197: Zack Chakonis (Northwestern) Fall Regis Durbin (Northwestern), 4:16
Fifth Consolation Round
133: Jacob Rubio (Oklahoma) dec. Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern-unattached), 6-2
141: Nikko Villarreal (Arizona State) dec. Alec McKenna (Northwestern), 7-3
141: Eli Stickley (Wisconsin) dec. Yahya Thomas (Northwestern-unattached), 4-1
197: Zack Chakonis (Northwestern) dec. Landon Pelham (Central Michigan), 10-8
Sixth Consolation Round
184: #17 Mitch Sliga (Northwestern) dec. Nick May (Michigan State), 9-2
Freshman/Sophomore
Round of 8
125: Brandon Courtney (Arizona State) Tech. Fall Dylan Utterback (Northwestern), 20-5
Round of 16
125: Dylan Utterback (Northwestern) Fall David Poff (Lake Erie), 1:47
Fourth Consolation Round
125: Donte River-Garcia (Muskegon CC) dec. Dylan Utterback (Northwestern), 10-7
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Players Mentioned
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
Wrestling - 'Cats Take Down Wisconsin, 27-11, on Senior Night (2/14/25)
Saturday, February 15
Wrestling - Seven 'Cats Claim Victory in 27-12 Win Over Michigan State (2/8/25)
Saturday, February 08
Wrestling - 'Cats Tame Mustangs, Take Down Cal Poly 29-14 (12/19/24)
Friday, December 20
Michael DeAugustino and Yahya Thomas Join 'Big Ten Wrestling & Beyond' (2/20/23)
Tuesday, February 21
