INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The terrific run for Gannon University men's wrestling at the 42^nd Midwest Classic continued into the weekend's second day of competition, including redshirt junior Dom Means winning the 149-pound title in his first action of the 2021-2022 season. Junior Nick Young (sixth place at 157) and freshman Joey Petrella (seventh at 174) also earned spots on the podium. Gannon as a team finished 18^th of 41 teams with 44.5 points. Central Oklahoma was the team champion with a total of 106.5 points.
 
Means began his day with a semifinal decision over Northern State's Wyatt Turnquist, 4-2 to book his spot in the finals. Turnquist had earned falls against all three of his opponents up to that point in the tournament, but Means' unbeaten run would not be interrupted. The title bout versus Central Oklahoma's No.7-ranked Brik Fillipo was scoreless through the first period, and Fillipo started the second period down, escaping nine seconds in to earn the first point. Means responded with a critical takedown with 40 seconds remaining in the period, and another escape for Fillipo tied the bout 2-2 heading to the third. Means picked up an escape point of his own with 1:15 remaining to take a 3-2 lead and defended the rest of the way to win the 149-pound title and defeat his second nationally ranked opponent of the tournament. Dom began the season ranked No. 12 in the NWCA national preseason poll before falling out due to inactivity.
 
A tough semifinal draw for 157-pounder Nick Young against No. 1-ranked and top seed James Wimer of Findlay resulted in Young's first loss of the tournament by major decision, 16-4. The parade of nationally-ranked opponents continued into the consolation bracket, dropping bouts to No. 6 JoJo Gonzalez from American International  (17-5 major decision) and No. 10 Braydon Huber from Mary (11-2 major decision) in the fifth-place match to end his day with a sixth-place finish.
 
Evan Fisler also ran into a ranked opponent in the consolation bracket at 165 pounds, losing a tightly contested 5-3 decision to No. 12 Jack Eiteljorge from the host University of Indianapolis.
 
Petrella's run to seventh place in the 174-pound bracket began with some late drama against Colorado Mesa's Seth Latham. Petrella trailed 1-0 going into the third period but scored two late takedowns—including one in the final seconds—to advance by decision, 4-2. The victory guaranteed Petrella a spot on the podium and at least an eighth-place finish. Petrella lost his next match by that same score, 4-2, to No. 11-ranked Max Bruss of Mary, but secured a podium spot after a medical forfeit by Findlay's Hunter Reed in the seventh-place match.
 
Next up on the schedule for the men's team is the NWCA National Duals and NUWAY Open beginning on Thursday, Jan. 6 in Louisville, Ky.

FULL DAY 2 GANNON UNIVERSITY RESULTS
 
Dom Means (149 pounds)
 
Dom Means (Gannon) dec. Wyatt Turnquist (Northern State), 4-2
Dom Means (Gannon) dec. #7 Brik Fillippo (Central Oklahoma), 3-2 – championship match
 
Nick Young (157 pounds)
 
#1 James Wimer (Findlay) maj. dec. Nick Young (Gannon), 16-4
#6 JoJo Gonzalez (American International) maj. dec. Nick Young (Gannon), 17-5
#10 Braydon Huber (Mary) maj. dec. Nick Young (Gannon), 11-2 – 5^th place match
 
Evan Fisler (165 pounds)

#12 Jack Eiteljorge (University of Indianapolis) dec. Evan Fisler (Gannon), 5-3
 
Joey Petrella (174 pounds)
 
Joey Petrella (Gannon) dec. Seth Letham (Colorado Mesa), 4-2
#11 Max Bruss (Mary) dec. Joey Petrella (Gannon), 4-2
Joey Petrella (Gannon) med. Forfeit Hunter Reed (Findlay) – 7^th place match