A redshirt junior, Means just returned to the mat recently and went into the prestigious 42nd Midwest Classic with a 1-0 record, and that was a forfeit victory. He would run the field at 149 lbs. winning all five of his matches over the two-day tournament, two over nationally-ranked opponents, to improve to 6-0.
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Means opened the tournament with a major decision over Deshawn Cosby of Bluefield State, winning 14-1. Next came an 8-4 decision over Western Colorado's Jason Hanenburg. In the quarterfinals, he upset third-ranked and top seed Noah Hermosillo of Adams St., 7-5. He faced Northern State's Wyatt Turnquist in Sunday's semifinals, earning a 4-2 decision over a wrestler who had pinned his first three opponents.
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That set up the title bout versus seventh-ranked Brik Fillipo of Central Oklahoma. The two wrestlers would enter the third period tied at 2-2 following a Fillipo escape. However, Means picked up the winning point on an escape of his own midway through the third period for a 3-2 victory.
