Sivels Earns Title as Warriors Compete in Conner Oppenheim Open

CRETE, Neb. — Midland University's men's wrestling team took to the mats at the Conner Oppenheim Open on Saturday, hosted by Doane University at Fuhrer Fieldhouse. Zeph Sivels, ranked No. 12 in the country at 285 pounds, won the Open Division to lead the Warriors.

Sivels was one of four Midland grapplers in the Open Division. After an opening-round bye, he began his day with an 11-4 decision over Jovon Howe of Cumberlands (Ky.). In the third round, he pinned Oran Varela of Graceland in 1:07. He added another fall in the semifinals, defeating No. 3-ranked Nicolas Rodriguez of Eastern Oregon in 9:00. In the championship match, Sivels secured the title with a 7-3 decision over No. 11 Austin Silva of Cumberlands (Ky.).

At 125 pounds, Dylan Atherton went 1-2. After a bye, he fell to No. 15 Braden Ledford of Friends, 6-3. Atherton rebounded with an 8-0 major decision over Chase Preston of Dakota Wesleyan before being eliminated by Jesse Lewis of Wayland Baptist via fall in 41 seconds.

Zion Amerson returned to action at 149 pounds and went 0-2. He lost by fall to Joshua Zieman of St. Ambrose in 6:30, then medically forfeited his next match to Tate Rusher of Friends.

At 184 pounds, No. 16 Nate McDonald finished 3-2. He opened with a fall over Brandon Alexander of Waldorf in 3:14 and followed with an 11-2 major decision over Jaron Alf of Ottawa. McDonald then faced No. 1 Tyson Beauperthuy of Doane, losing by technical fall, 22-6, in 4:13. In the consolation round, he fell to No. 15 Julian Gorring of Ottawa, 4-1.

Midland had five wrestlers in the Amateur Division. At 149 pounds, Hunter True went 0-2, dropping matches to Ben Smith of the University of Saint Mary by fall in 3:51 and to Drew Sterrett of Cloud County CC by fall in 59 seconds.

At 157 pounds, Francisco Duran went 0-2. He lost a 6-3 sudden-victory match to Joshiah Carter of St. Ambrose before falling to Wiley Hegwer of Morningside in 3:43.

Midland entered three competitors at 197 pounds. Treyton Tweton led the group with a third-place finish. Tweton opened with a fall over Braeden Stotts of Missouri Baptist in 2:18 and added another against Grant Schwerdtfeger of Southeast CC in 4:28. He then lost to Mekhi Bovee of Morningside by fall in 2:56. Tweton bounced back to pin David Holguin of Cloud County CC in 4:02 before defeating Schwerdtfeger again by fall in 2:41 in the third-place match.

Also at 197 pounds, Colin Stone went 0-2, falling to Kevin Lund of Baker by a 7-2 decision and to Caleb Schwerdtfeger of Southeast CC in an 8-5 sudden-victory loss. Jeremy Felix finished 1-2, opening with a fall over Aiden Griffin of Hastings in 2:09 before losing to Bovee in sudden victory, 9-6. Felix was eliminated by Caleb Schwerdtfeger, 7-3.

Midland returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 11, when it hosts Hastings College in Great Plains Athletic Conference dual action. Competition begins at 7 p.m. inside Wikert Event Center.