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John Carroll University Athletics

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Wrestling team at regionals

Wrestling Sends 4 to National Championships in Best Regional Finish Ever

| By: Joe Ginley '16, SID
John Carroll Wrestling notched 1 regional champ, 9 regional placers, and a third-place team finish. 
ADRIAN, Mich. -- It's safe to say that John Carroll Wrestling's trip to Michigan this weekend was a rousing success.

The Blue Streaks enjoyed an unforgettable weekend at the 2022 NCAA Division III Central Regional, both as a team and as individuals.

The men of Mark Hawald finished in third as a team. But more importantly, the Blue Streaks will send four wrestlers to the 2022 NCAA Division III National Championships in Iowa in a couple weeks: Andrew Perelka, Luke Reicosky, Patrick McGraw, and Daniel Devera.

The four qualifiers match JCU's total in 2020 before the national tournament was canceled, the most since the 2004 Blue Streaks qualified five for the big dance. 

The Blue Streaks' team finish is the best since regionals began in 2013. The Blue & Gold notched nine regional placers, which surpasses the team's 7 placers in 2020. 

"Today was filled with happiness and sadness, said Head Coach Mark Hawald. "The wins meant trips to the NCAA championships and the losses meant the end of seasons and careers. We now have two weeks to prepare for nationals with the hope of bringing home four all-Americans."

Final Brackets

NCAA Qualifiers

165: Patrick McGraw
The Chardon native did battle with Dylan Briggs of Olivet in the semifinals to start Saturday. McGraw lost to Briggs earlier in the year, but strutted to a 2-1 lead after the first period. McGraw allowed a second-period escape, but then notched an escape in the third to eke out a 3-2 decision. The Saint Ignatius grad came against a familiar foe for the regional title, Dalton Leightner of Baldwin Wallace. McGraw got the first points late in the second period with an escape. In the third, McGraw compiled two penalty points and escape, yielding riding time for a conclusive 4-1 decision. McGraw stood as JCU's lone regional champion on Saturday.

133: Andrew Perelka
The Brecksville native conquered his semifinal foe, Wabash's Blake McGee, with ease, 10-3. That win guaranteed him a spot for the big show in a couple weeks. Perelka did battle with David Massey of Mount Union for the regional crown, but fell short. Perelka positioned himself well in the opening two frames, competing to a 2-2 tie. But Massey, ranked No. 4 in the country, managed a takedown with 52 seconds left to secure a 5-3 win. 

157: Luke Reicosky 
The rematch between Reicosky and Otterbein's Ryan Whitten played out the same as the first contest, with a 3-2 victory for Reicosky. The JCU vet was behind 1-0 until an early third-period escape. Reicosky notched a takedown with 33 seconds left for the win. Reicosky allowed a medical forfeit in the title bout, still marching on to Iowa. 

174: Daniel Devera
The freshman phenom's season will continue in Iowa City. An action-packed semifinal paved Devera's path. He won a fast and furious second period, 4-3. A third-period escape cemented his conquest via a 5-3 decision. Like Reicosky, Devera ceded the title via a medical forfeit, but he clinches a spot in Iowa. 

Regional Placers

125: Kyle Murray, 4th
The Dublin native's awesome journey ended in Adrian. Despite facing the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the country, BW's Jacob Decatur, Murray held his own. The junior trailed the Ohio State transfer just 5-3 with 51 seconds on the clock. But Decatur won the day with riding time and a late takedown in an 8-3 decision. In the battle for third and a spot at the national tourney, Murray succumbed to Jack Stanley of Mount Union, in a heartbreaker. Murray and Stanley battled to a 3-3 stalemate. The first overtime didn't do it, but the second did, as Murray won an escape and a takedown for the conquest. 

141: Jarrod Brezovec, 4th
After making the cut for the 2019 and 2020 NCAA Championships, Brezovec just barely missed out this time. Mount Union's Jordin James dealt him a 12-1 loss, sending him into the third-place match. Wabash's Daniel Uribe and Brez stood tied after two periods, 3-3. The bout heated up in the third. Brezovec instantly got an escape, but allowed a takedown with 56 seconds left. The Aurora native escaped, but a heart-wrenching takedown with 6 seconds ended Brez's run. 

149: Kale Buckiso, 4th
The day opened in defeat for Buckiso, as BW's Michael Petrella (ranked No. 4 in the nation) sent him to the third-place bout with a 8-0 MD. Alex Barr of Wabash started out strong in the match for nationals, bursting out of the gates with an early takedown. But despite the 6-1 loss, Buckiso's future could not be brighter. 

197: Jesse Kanatzar, 5th
The freshman showed his potential with the strong finish on Saturday. He overcame Boden Brown (Albion College), 2-1, thanks to a strong third-period effort. Otterbein's Jarrod Setliff, the eventual bronze winner, sent Kanatzar into the fifth-place match with a 7-5 decision, despite a spiriting comeback effort by the Tallmadge native. Kanatzar left no doubt in his final match of the year, pinning Caleb Tackett of Wilmington in the second period. 

285: Connor Bizjak, 8th 
Bizjak opened against Owen Miller (Albion College). The senior lost by pin, dropping to the battle for seventh. Ben DePrest of Ohio Northern sent Bizjak into eighth via a pin. Still, it was a nice year for Bizjak.

The 4 qualifying Blue Streaks will now use the next couple weeks to prep for the National Championships in Iowa from March 11-12.
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