INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Gannon University men's wrestling team entered five wrestlers into an impressive field at the 42^nd Midwest Classic, hosted by the University of Indianapolis, and advanced Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) and Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) to Sunday's semifinals after both wrestlers finished the day 3-0, including wins against nationally-ranked opponents. Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) and Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township), both with two wins and one loss on Saturday, also advance to the second day of competition in the consolation brackets.
 
The prestigious 2021 Midwest Classic features 44 Division II teams from 22 different states, 47 former All-Americans, and 30 former national qualifiers.
 
Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic), wrestling for the first time this season, began his journey through the 149 pound bracket with a 14-1 major decision over Bluefield State's Deshawn Cosby. He added an 8-4 decision over Western Colorado's Jason Hanenburg to reach the quarterfinal and a bout against the No. 3-ranked wrestler nationally, Adams State's Noah Hermosillo. Means was taken down first by Hermosillo and trailed 2-0 early but pulled off the comeback for a 7-5 decision to qualify for Sunday's semifinal.
 
In the 157-pound bracket, Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) earned a fall over Lindenwood's Anthony Michaels in 3:32 and then proceeded to earn a 12-6 decision over No. 8 Mason Boutain from San Francisco State to book his spot in the quarters. Young completed his trifecta of wins on Saturday with an 8-5 decision over Ryan Wheeler from Colorado Mesa to advance to Sunday's semi and improve his record this season to 12-3.
 
165-pounder Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) took Maryville's Tanner Sparks to overtime in his first bout of the day, completing a takedown in SV1 to advance, 5-3. A medical forfeit in the next round advanced Fisler to the quarterfinals, where he wrestled No. 9-ranked Drew Wiechers of Ashland tough but lost by decision, 7-4.
 
Freshman Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley), entering the tournament with an 8-1 record,  secured a 2-1 decision over Central Oklahoma's Kalin Winkler to open the 174-pound bracket but dropped his next bout 2-0 to No. 11 Max Bruss from the University of Mary. Petrella rebounded in the consolation bracket with decisions over San Francisco State's Gage Mettler (8-2) and Seton Hill's Luke Ewing (5-4) to also advance to the second day of competition.
 
Gannon's final competitor, heavyweight Gehrig Hutchison (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin), lost his first bout by technical fall to Zach Shaffer from UNC-Pembroke—but recovered to take UW-Parkside's Nate Lloyd to overtime tied 3-3 after the third period. Lloyd earned the takedown to win the bout 5-3 to end Hutchison's day.
 
FULL GANNON UNIVERSITY RESULTS
 
Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (149 pounds)
 
Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (Gannon) maj. dec. Deshawn Cosby (Bluefield State), 14-1
Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (Gannon) dec. Jason Hanenburg (Western Colorado), 8-4
Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (Gannon) dec. #3 Noah Hermosillo (Adams St.), 7-5
 
Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) (157 pounds)
 
Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) (Gannon) fall over Anthony Michaels (Lindenwood), 3:32
Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) (Gannon) dec. #8 Mason Boutain (San Francisco State), 12-6
Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) (Gannon) dec. Ryan Wheeler (Colorado Mesa), 8-5
 
Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (165 pounds)
 
Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (Gannon) dec. Tanner Sparks (Maryville), 5-3 SV1
Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (Gannon) med. Forfeit Kameron Frame (Newman)
#9 Drew Wiechers (Ashland) dec. Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (Gannon), 7-4
 
Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (174 pounds)
 
Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (Gannon) dec. Kalin Winkler (Central Oklahoma), 2-1
#11 Max Bruss (Maryville) dec. Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (Gannon), 2-0
Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (Gannon) dec. Gage Mettler (San Francisco State), 8-2
Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (Gannon) dec. Luke Ewing (Seton Hill), 5-4
 
Gehrig Hutchison (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) (285 pounds)
 
Zach Schaffer (UNC-Pembroke) tech. fall Gehrig Hutchison (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) (Gannon), 16-0 (6:11)
Nate Lloyd (UW-Parkside) dec. Gehrig Hutchison (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) (Gannon), 5-3 SV1