FORT WAYNE, Ind. - For the first time as a member as the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) and the third time in program history, the Marian wrestling team has earned a conference championship, as the Knights closed out their first-ever WHAC Title on Saturday evening. Marian earned five individual WHAC Champions, bringing home the first-ever title in the conference.

Marian had strong efforts from each of its 12 wrestlers that competed on Saturday, with all 12 earning at least one victory on the mat, contributing to the Knights' overall team score. The Knights had five individual champions, and one runner-up, along with five appearances in third place matches, totaling 181.5 points, five more than the total of No. 5 Indiana Tech's 176.5. Of Marian's 12 wrestlers competing on Saturday, 10 earned bids to the NAIA National Championships.

Anthony Hughes won his second career championship with his title win at 125, going 3-0 on the day and energizing Marian's wrestlers in the championship rounds. Logan Wagner won the 141 championship, claiming his third career WHAC Championship. Freshmen Christian Arberry and Anthony Rinehart were also champions in their respective 157 and 174 weight classes, and senior Noah Hollendonner earned his second career championship, winning the 184 weight class to seal Marian's team title. 

After the championship, several yearly honors were announced, including Coach of the Year, which was bestowed upon Marian head coach Steven Bradley. Marian had five First Team WHAC members, and one Second Team member. 

Earning automatic bids to the NAIA Championships include: Anthony Hughes and Aiden Woods (125), Landon Bertsch (133), Logan Wagner (141), Tiernan Boots (149), Christian Arberry (157), Jeff Dunasky Jr. (165), Anthony Rinehart and Jeivan Ross (174), and Noah Hollendonner (184).

Below are full results from the championship, along with a scoring summary and record for each Knight who competed at the championship. 

125
#1 Anthony Hughes - Hughes was the champion at 125, winning his second career championship. Hughes went 3-0, scoring 17.5 team points for the Knights. Hughes won his championship by a 7-3 decision.

• Round 1: Hughes defeats Quinton Simmons (Lourdes) by Fall, 3:49
• Semifinals: Hughes defeats Maliki Mosher (Siena Heights) by Tech Fall (5:19), 19-3
• Championship Match: Hughes defeated Tyler Hisey (Indiana Tech) by Decision, 7-3

Aidan Woods - Woods finished fourth and concluded with a record of 3-2, scoring 10 team points.

• Round 1: Woods defeated by Tyler Hisey (Indiana Tech) by Fall, 1:56
• Consolation Round 1: Woods defeats Mykale Schneider (Siena Heights) by Decision, 13-8
• Consolation Semifinals: Woods defeats Maliki Mosher (Siena Heights) by Fall, 1:40
• Third Place Match: Woods defeated by Trevor Hisey (Indiana Tech) by Decision, 10-8
• True Fourth Place Match: Woods won by Sudden Victory over Jordan Rodriguez (Cleary) by Sudden Victory, 8-5

133
Landon Bertsch - Bertsch finished third at 133, carrying a record of 3-1 on the day to score 14.5 team points.

• Round 1: Bertsch defeats Ty Biggart (Siena Heights) by Fall, 1:18
• Round 2: Bertsch defeated by Luke Rioux (Indiana Tech) by Tech Fall (3:12), 21-5
• Consolation Semifinal Round: Bertsch defeats Randy Frailey (Siena Heights) by Medical Forfeit
• Third Place Match: Bertsch defeated Aurelio Mendez (Cornerstone) by Decision, 5-0

141
#1 Logan Wagner - Earns his third career championship, going 4-0 to win the 141 title. Won the championship match by a 14-3 major decision, and scored 22 overall points for Marian's team score. 

• Round 1: Wagner defeats Jake Lynn (Cleary) by Fall, 2:05
• Quarterfinals: Wagner defeats Maurice Ames (Siena Heights) by Fall, 0:42
• Semifinals: Wagner defeats Cole McKinley (Lourdes) by Fall, 2:28
• Championship: Wagner defeats Conner Kimbrough (Indiana Tech) by Major Decision, 14-3

149
Tiernan Boots - Boots finished third at 149, scoring 13 team points as he held a record of 4-1, earning a pair of top-25 wins. Boots won three matches by sudden victory, the most for any Marian wrestler on the day. 

• Round 1: Boots defeated by Grayson Sonntag (Cleary) by Tech Fall (7:00), 19-2
• Consolation Round 1: Boots earns a bye
• Consolation Round 2: Boots defeats Preston Auld (Cleary) by Fall, 2:25
• Consolation Round 3: Boots defeats Ian Boden (Cornerstone) by Sudden Victory, 4-1
• Consolation Semifinals: Boots defeats Mike Loney (Indiana Tech) by Sudden Victory, 9-6
• Third Place Match: Boots defeated Marlone Kirksy (Indiana Tech) by Sudden Victory, 4-1

157
#1 Christian Arberry - Arberry survived the championship match, defeating ranked Vinnie Abbey to win the 157 championship. The freshman scored a perfect 4-0 record, and scored 19 team points for the Knights. 

• Round 1: Arberry defeats Jack Gruno (Cleary) by Tech Fall (6:35), 20-4
• Quarterfinals: Arberry defeats Peyton Brown (Defiance) by Tech Fall (6:16), 20-4
• Semifinals: Arberry defeats Bode Wilson (Cornerstone) by Major Decision, 10-2
• Championship: Arberry defeats Vinnie Abbey (Indiana Tech) by Decision, 7-5

165
#2 Jeff Dunasky Jr. - Dunasky finished as the runner-up in the 165 weight class, falling in the championship match. The senior totaled a record of 2-1 on the day, and scored 14.5 points for Marian's team total. 

• Round 1: Dunasky earns a bye
• Quarterfinals: Dunasky defeats Justin Major (Cleary) by Tech Fall (6:48), 25-8
• Semifinals: Dunasky defeats Braden Getz (MU) by Decision, 7-3
• Championship: Dunasky defeated by Jonathan Kervin (Indiana Tech) by Tech Fall (5:33), 23-8

Braden Getz - Getz finished third overall, holding a final record of 3-1 while scoring 17 points for the Knights. 

• Round 1: Getz earns a bye
• Quarterfinals: Getz defeats Jeremiah McKinney (Lourdes) by Fall, 1:30
• Semifinals: Getz defeated by Jeff Dunasky Jr (MU) by Decision, 7-3
• Consolation Semifinals: Getz defeats Graiden Troth by Medical Forfeit
• Third Place Match: Getz defeats Jaden Vanderwall (Cornerstone) by Tech Fall (5:28), 17-1

174
#1 Anthony Rinehart - Rinehart earned a championship at 174 as a collegiate freshman, scoring 20 team points for the Knights. The first-year Knight went 3-0 on the day, winning by fall to help score critical points in the championship round that ultimately sealed Marian's championship. 

• Round 1: Rinehart earns a bye
• Quarterfinals: Rinehart defeats Daniel Thatcher (Defiance) by Fall, 1:02
• Semifinals: Rinehart defeats Jeivan Ross (MU) by Major Decision, 12-0
• Championship: Rinehart defeats Jacob Gonzales (Rochester Christian) by Fall, 4:55

Jeivan Ross - Placed third at 174, finishing the day with a 3-1 overall record and scoring 14.5 team points. Ross had two wins over top-25 wrestlers, and had a team-high two major decision wins. 

• Round 1: Ross earns a bye
• Quarterfinals: Ross defeats Christian Preston (Rochester Christian) by Fall, 1:04
• Semifinals: Ross defeated by Anthony Rinehart (MU) by Major Decision, 12-0
• Consolation Semifinals: Ross defeats Landon Buchanan (Indiana Tech) by Decision, 14-8
• Third Place Match: Ross defeats Michael Durham (Indiana Tech) by Major Decision, 15-5

184
#1 Noah Hollendonner - Hollendonner won his second conference championship as a Knight and clinched Marian's team championship, scoring the final points necessary to claim the lead over Indiana Tech. Hollendonner scored 16.5 team points, and finished the day 3-0. 

• Round 1: Hollendonner defeats Cameron Carter (Lourdes) by Tech Fall (6:51), 20-4
• Semifinals: Hollendonner defeats Grant Richardson (Siena Heights) by Decision, 4-2
• Championship: Hollendonner defeats Brady Heckathorn (Cornerstone) by Major Decision, 20-12

285
Michael Yerian - Yerian finished sixth at the 285 weight class, going 1-3 on the day, scoring five team points. 

• Round 1: Yerian defeats Evan Smigelski (Defiance) by Decision, 2-0
• Semifinals: Yerian defeated by Collin Sullivan (Lourdes) by Decision, 4-1
• Consolation Semifinals: Yerian defeated by Sawyer Kuenzer (Rochester Christian) by Sudden Victory, 4-1
• Fifth Place Match: Yerian defeated by Jeff Blair (Siena Heights) by Fall, 0:25

The brackets and final wild cards for the NAIA Championship will be announced on February 24 and 25. The NAIA Championship begins on March 5 in Wichita, Kansas. 

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