Wells and Wilson secure NWCA All-American honors, Wilson to wrestle in the semifinals

CORALVILLE, Iowa – The Olivet College wrestling team competed today in the first day of the 2021 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III Championships at the Xtreme Arena. Team scores are not being kept. Highlighting day one action was junior Dominick Wilson and sophomore Zach Wells advancing to day two, and securing NWCA All-American honors.

• At 285 pounds, Wilson will wrestle tomorrow morning in the semifinals. Today, he won his three matches, 11-0 in the first round, 4-3 in the second round and 4-1 in the quarterfinals.
• At 174 pounds, sophomore Zach Wells fell by a 4-3 score in the first round before winning three straight matches in the consolation bracket. He won 9-2, pinned his opponent in the first period at 2:10 and won by injury default.
• At 149 pounds, sophomore Hunter Murphy won his first two matches, 4-0 and 11-5. He then lost a close 13-11 decision in the quarterfinals and was pinned in his first consolation bracket match.
• At 165 pounds, junior Dylan Briggs recorded a first-period pin in the opening round before losing 5-2 in the second round. He bounced back with another first-period pin in his first consolation bracket match and then a 12-1 major decision win in the third round of the consolation bracket. Briggs was pinned in his last match to bow out of the championships.
• At 197 pounds, senior Devlen Kuschel was pinned in the first round but rebounded to record a pin in his first consolation bracket match. His championship run ended in the consolation bracket when he was pinned.
• At 141 pounds, freshman Dylan Phelps pinned his first-round opponent in 36 seconds before dropping an 8-0 decision in the second round. In his first consolation bracket match, he lost 8-7.
• Due to a nagging injury, senior Cameron Mahlich was forced to withdraw from the 125-pound bracket.
• Junior 133-pounder Reese Wallis and freshman 157-pounder Gabe Guerrero both lost twice.

• Day two of the championships starts tomorrow at 12 p.m. CT.