Triston Wills Claims Title at Cougar Clash Tournament

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Triston Wills took home the title at 174 pounds this Sunday at the Cougar Clash invitational, going 4-0 on the day with two bonus point wins. The Derby, Kansas native moves to 7-2 on the year to lead the team.
 
The redshirt junior started off his day with a 16-2 major decision over a Northern Colorado opponent before collecting decisions over Northern Illinois and Missouri. Wills faced a different Northern Colorado wrestler in the championship round, commanding the match from beginning to end to claim a 10-1 major decision and end the afternoon on a high note.
 
"It was great that we had a champ today," said head coach Neil Erisman. "Triston found a way to get it done and I was happy for him that he finished his tournament in a dominant style."

"We had a pretty rough first half of the day, but it was good to see the guys finish strong," Coach Erisman added. "We've got a lot of improvement to dao in the way we approach each day and our attitude and mentality. The positive side of that is that I've seen the guys change before, and I believe they will this time as well. We are already excited to get back and use the next two weeks to get a lot better. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Jack Stephens Center on December 18th!"
 
Jeremiah Reno and Josiah Hill each took third place in their respective brackets, winning at the end of the day in their final matches. Reno doubled his overall record today, sitting at 6-2 in the season, while Hill moves to a winning record at 5-4.
 
Reno picked up a technical fall and a pin but dropped a tight 6-4 decision to Blake West of Northern Illinois, who is currently receiving honorable mention in FloWrestling's rankings at 125. He took on Jayden Carson in the third-place match, topping his teammate 6-2.
 
Heavyweight Hill battled back in the consolation bracket after a tough loss in overtime to a Northern Illinois opponent at the beginning of the day. He claimed his own win in overtime in the third-place match over a Missouri wrestler, a 7-5 decision. The redshirt sophomore picked up a pin and a decision as well as he made his way through the bracket.
 
The other Little Rock wrestler that finished with a winning record was Joseph Bianchi, going 3-2 on the day. Despite letting his first match get away from him, he claimed three straight wins in a row to advance to the third-place match at 149 pounds.
 
In just two weeks, the Trojans will return to Little Rock for a 6:30 p.m. dual against #15 North Dakota State on December 18th. Pack the Jack as the team looks to close the fall semester with some top matchups in preparation for the second half of the season.
 
Little Rock Results

Jeremiah Reno (3-1) – 3^rd place, 125 pounds

• Quarterfinal - Jeremiah Reno (Little Rock) won by tech fall over Davian Guanajuato (SIU Edwardsville) (TF 20-2)
• Semifinal - #HM Blake West (Northern Illinois) won by decision over Jeremiah Reno (Little Rock) (Dec 6-4)
• Cons. Semi - Jeremiah Reno (Little Rock) won by fall over Austin Macias (SIU Edwardsville) (Fall 0:53)
• 3rd Place Match - Jeremiah Reno (Little Rock) won by decision over Jayden Carson (Little Rock) (Dec 6-2)

 
Jayden Carson (2-2) – 4^th place, 125 pounds

• Quarterfinal - Jayden Carson (Little Rock) won by tech fall over Austin Macias (SIU Edwardsville) (TF 17-0)
• Semifinal - #HM Stevo Poulin (Northern Colorado) won by major decision over Jayden Carson (Little Rock) (Maj 13-1)
• Cons. Semi - Jayden Carson (Little Rock) won by decision over Davian Guanajuato (SIU Edwardsville) (Dec 11-4)
• 3rd Place Match - Jeremiah Reno (Little Rock) won by decision over Jayden Carson (Little Rock) (Dec 6-2)

 
Josh Sarpy (2-2) – 5^th place, 133 pounds

• Quarterfinal - Lucian Brink (Northern Illinois) won by decision over Joshua Sarpy (Little Rock) (Dec 6-4)
• Cons. Round 1 - Joshua Sarpy (Little Rock) won by decision over Marcel Lopez (SIU Edwardsville) (Dec 8-1)
• Cons. Semi - Aaron Schulist (SIU Edwardsville) won by fall over Joshua Sarpy (Little Rock) (Fall 3:56)
• 5th Place Match - Joshua Sarpy (Little Rock) won by tech fall over Caiden Pelc (Lindenwood) (TF 16-1)

 
Joseph Bianchi (3-2) – 4^th place, 149 pounds

• Quarterfinal - Joel Mylin (Missouri) won by decision over Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) (Dec 8-5)
• Cons. Round 2 - Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) won by decision over Chase Tebbets (Little Rock) (Dec 3-2)
• Cons. Round 3 - Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) won by decision over Saul Ervin (SIU Edwardsville) (Dec 6-4)
• Cons. Semi - Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) won by decision over Nate Pulliam (Missouri) (Dec 8-5)
• 3rd Place Match - Christopher Sandoval (Northern Colorado) won by decision over Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) (Dec 6-4)

 
Chase Tebbets (0-2), 149 pounds

• Champ. Round 1 - Caleb Tyus (SIU Edwardsville) won by decision over Chase Tebbets (Little Rock) (Dec 3-1)
• Cons. Round 2 - Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) won by decision over Chase Tebbets (Little Rock) (Dec 3-2)

 
Matty Bianchi (1-2) – 4^th place, 157 pounds

• Semifinal - Anthony Gibson (Northern Illinois) won by decision over Matthew Bianchi (Little Rock) (Dec 5-4)
• Cons. Semi - Matty Bianchi (Little Rock) won by decision over Bilal Bailey (Little Rock) (Dec 5-4)
• 3rd Place Match - Munktulga Zuunbayan (Northern Illinois) won by decision over Matthew Bianchi (Little Rock) (Dec 9-5)

 
Bilal Bailey (2-2) – 5^th place, 157 pounds

• Quarterfinal - Munktulga Zuunbayan (Northern Illinois) won by decision over Bilal Bailey (Little Rock) (Dec 5-0)
• Cons. Round 1 - Bilal Bailey (Little Rock) won by decision over Austin Keal (Little Rock) (Dec 5-2)
• Cons. Semi - Matthew Bianchi (Little Rock) won by decision over Bilal Bailey (Little Rock) (Dec 5-4)
• 5th Place Match - Bilal Bailey (Little Rock) won by forfeit over Grant LaDuke (SIU Edwardsville) (FF)

 
Austin Keal (0-2) – 7^th place, 157 pounds

• Quarterfinal - Jerrdon Fisher (Missouri) won by decision over Austin Keal (Little Rock) (Dec 3-2)
• Cons. Round 1 - Bilal Bailey (Little Rock) won by decision over Austin Keal (Little Rock) (Dec 5-2)

 
Kodiak Cannedy (0-2), 165 pounds

• Champ. Round 1 - #9 Izzak Olejnik (Northern Illinois) won by major decision over Kodiak Cannedy (Little Rock) (Maj 10-0)
• Cons. Round 2 - Jake Evans (Northern Illinois) won by decision over Kodiak Cannedy (Little Rock) (Dec 6-0)

 
Triston Wills (4-0) – 1^st place, 174 pounds

• Champ. Round 1 - Triston Wills (Little Rock) won by major decision over Derek Matthews (Northern Colorado) (Maj 16-2)
• Quarterfinal - Triston Wills (Little Rock) won by decision over Hayden Pummel (Northern Illinois) (Dec 6-3)
• Semifinal - Triston Wills (Little Rock) won by decision over Ellis Pfleger (Missouri) (Dec 6-5)
• 1st Place Match - Triston Wills (Little Rock) won by major decision over Andrew Berreyesa (Northern Colorado) (Maj 10-1)

 
Mason Diel (1-2), 184 pounds

• Champ. Round 1 - Mason Diel (Little Rock) won by decision over Micah Ervin (SIU Edwardsville) (Dec 6-4)
• Quarterfinal - Matt Zuber (Northern Illinois) won by decision over Mason Diel (Little Rock) (Dec 2-0)
• Cons. Round 2 - Sergio Villalobos (SIU Edwardsville) won by decision over Mason Diel (Little Rock) (Dec 7-3)

 
Tanner Mendoza (2-3) – 6^th place, 184 pounds 

• Champ. Round 1 - Sean Harman (Missouri) won by tech fall over Tanner Mendoza (Little Rock) (TF 19-3)
• Cons. Round 2 - Tanner Mendoza (Little Rock) won by medical forfeit over Damen Pape (Northern Colorado) (MFF)
• Cons. Round 3 - Tanner Mendoza (Little Rock) won by decision over Micah Ervin (SIU Edwardsville) (Dec 10-4)
• Cons. Semi - Matt Zuber (Northern Illinois) won by decision over Tanner Mendoza (Little Rock) (Dec 2-0)
• 5th Place Match - Sergio Villalobos (SIU Edwardsville) won in sudden victory - 1 over Tanner Mendoza (Little Rock) (SV-1 3-1)

 
Matthew Weinert (1-2) – 5^th place, 197 pounds 

• Semifinal - Jesse Cassatt (Missouri) won by decision over Matthew Weinert (Little Rock) (Dec 3-1)
• Cons. Semi - Tylynn Lukens (Little Rock) won by decision over Matthew Weinert (Little Rock) (Dec 6-0)
• 5th Place Match - Matthew Weinert (Little Rock) won by decision over Tommy Hagan (Missouri) (Dec 8-1)

 
Ty Lukens (2-2) – 4^th place, 197 pounds 

• Quarterfinal - Xavier Vasquez (Northern Colorado) won in sudden victory - 1 over Tylynn Lukens (Little Rock) (SV-1 4-2)
• Cons. Round 1 - Tylynn Lukens (Little Rock) won by fall over Ryan Golnick (Lindenwood) (Fall 5:48)
• Cons. Semi - Tylynn Lukens (Little Rock) won by decision over Matthew Weinert (Little Rock) (Dec 6-0)
• 3rd Place Match - Ryan Yarnell (SIU Edwardsville) won by tech fall over Tylynn Lukens (Little Rock) (TF 18-0)

 
Josiah Hill (3-1) – 3^rd place, 285 pounds

• Quarterfinal - Jacobi Jackson (Northern Illinois) won in sudden victory - 1 over Josiah Hill (Little Rock) (SV-1 3-1)
• Cons. Round 3 - Josiah Hill (Little Rock) won by fall over Dan McKiernan (SIU Edwardsville) (Fall 1:04)
• Cons. Semi - Josiah Hill (Little Rock) won by decision over Terrese Aaron (Northern Illinois) (Dec 3-0)
• 3rd Place Match - Josiah Hill (Little Rock) won in sudden victory - 1 over Seth Nitzel (Missouri) (SV-1 7-5)

 
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