MAC Wrestler of the Week
Ethan Laird, Rider, Graduate
Edinboro, PA, 197 lbs.
Ethan defeated returning NCAA Champion Max Dean, the #1 ranked wrestler in the Nation from Penn State at 197 lbs. Ethan is now 9-0 (1-0 in the MAC) on the season.
Other Nominees
Caleb Rea, Cleveland State, Gr., 141 lbs.
Weirton, W.Va.
Rea went 3-0 in his Vikings debut at the Storm Open while winning the championship at 141 pounds. He secured two major decisions and a fall on the afternoon.
Peter Pappas, George Mason, Grad Student, 157 lbs.
Plainview, NY / Plainview-- Old Bethpage JFK
Peter Pappas was undefeated (6-0) in his matches this weekend. The grad student earned major decisions in his matches on Friday night in the Patriots dual wins against Bloomsburg and Gardner-Webb. He defeated Bloom's Cade Balestrini, 10-1, and GWU's Tyler Brignola, 20-9. On Sunday at the ARMS Software Patriot Open, he was crowned champion at 157 pounds. He began the tournament decisively with a fall against Navy's Michael Ponenti. He earned decisions against Michael Koch (Davidson) and Clayton Ulrey (VT). In the finals, Pappas edged 2022 NCAA Qualifier Ashton Eyler from Lock Haven, 3-2. Pappas improves to 12-1 on the season.
Enrique Munguia, Kent State, Soph., 165 lbs.
Strongsville, OH (Elyria)
Munguia wrestled his way into the weekend at the prestigious Cliff Keen Invite in Vegas. The sophomore went 3-2 on the weekend, with both losses coming to top-20 wrestlers including #3 Carson Karchla of Ohio State. He picked up a strong win over Andrew Nicholson of Va Tech and had a huge comeback win over David Ferrante of #13 Northwestern. Munguia was down 8-1 only to storm back to take an 11-10 lead and win 13-11 in extra time. Munguia is 17-3 overall on the season and ranked #16 by WIN Magazine and top-25 by several publications.
Anthony Noto, Lock Haven, Redshirt Sophomore, 125 lbs.
Lima, NY (Honeoye Falls-Lima)
On Thursday, No. 21 Anthony Noto put on a clinic at 125 pounds against Davidson's Hale Robinson. The 2022 MAC Champion notched four takedowns and eight near-fall points to lead 16-3 after the opening period. The redshirt sophomore finished off the tech fall after grabbing another takedown to cap the 18-3 win. At Sunday's Patriot Open, Noto was stellar yet again as the sophomore claimed a 4-0 record on the day, including a pin in under a minute, two tech falls and a 10-3 decision in the championship over George Mason's Markel Baker.
Izzak Olejnik, NIU, Redshirt senior, 165 lbs.
Bakersfield, Calif. (Bakersfield)
Olejnik's path to the 165-title at the Cougar Clash began with a major decision win over Kodiak Cannedy of Little Rock before earning a 4-1 win over Cam Steed of Missouri. In the semifinal bout, Olejnik pinned SIUE's Hayden Shepherd at 1:29 to earn a spot in the title match. Finally, Olejnik beat Cardi Wilson of SIUE 5-0 to win the title and go 4-0 on the day.
Alec Hagan, Ohio, Graduate Student, 149 lbs.
Eureka, Mo. (Eureka)
Hagan started the tournament seeded eighth, quickly registering a fall to advance to the next round. Next, he defeated Kent State's Kody Komara by a narrow 3-2 decision, but he fell in the quarterfinals match. In the fifth place match, Hagan lost in a 5-2 decision, placing sixth in the 149-pound bracket.
Colton McKiernan, SIUE, Senior, 285 lbs.
Richmond, Mich. (Richmond HS)
Champion of the Cougar Clash (12/4) in Edwardsville. He and Caleb Tyus became first SIUE wrestlers to win individual titles at Cougar Clash. Matches listed below. McKiernan won by fall over David Hernandez (Lindenwood) (Fall 2:05). Then McKiernan won by decision over Ryan Boersma (Missouri) (Dec 1-0). McKiernan (SIUE) also won by decision over Terrese Aaron (Northern Illinois) (Dec 1-0). In the first place match, McKiernan won by decision over Jacobi Jackson (Northern Illinois) (Dec 2-0).
