WICHITA, KAN – The 24th ranked Newman University wrestling team cruised in its season-opening dual on Thursday (Nov. 15) by a score of 37-6 over Cloud County Community College.
Newman's Blake Sargent put the Jets up 3-0 right out of the gate in the 125-pound bout with a 10-3 decision over Blayne Harris. In the subsequent 133-pound class, Tyler Lawley extended the Jets lead to 9-0 with a pin in 5:31 over Blake Leiszler.
At 141 pounds, redshirt-junior transfer Kevin Kissane started his season off with 19-1 tech-fall in 5:47 over Bryce Gfeller, extending the Jets lead to 14-0.
In the 149-pound bout, Kameron Frame finished his night of work quickly in a 1:59 fall over Tanner McGivney extending the Jets match lead to 20-0 after four matches.
Newman's on slaughter continued in the 157-pound bout as second-ranked Tyler Mies opened his season with an impressive 17-2 tech-fall in 4:49 over Quentin Jiner.
Halfway through the dual the Jets lead the T-Birds 25-0
In the 165-pound bout, Noah Perkins fell behind early in his match and used a late third round takedown coming back defeating Noah Aziera in an 8-6 decision.
Nate Panagakis took the mat in the 174-pound weight class against the T-Birds Jayden Creach. Panagakis added six more points to the Jets match lead with a fall in 2:13.
For the 184-pound battle, the Jets sent Ivan Balavage to the mat against Matthew Cruickshank. Balavage fell into an early 10-0 deficit before scoring right before the end of the first period with a reversal. Balavage started the second period on top, climbing back into the match with four-near fall points closing Cruickshank's lead down to 10-6. Balavage cut the lead down to one with his second reversal in the match, but the comeback fell just short falling in a 14-11 decision.
Jacob Stoneberger at the 197 pounds, added another three more points to the Jets commanding lead as he emerged victorious over Zach Bowen by an 12-6 decision.
In the last bout of the evening, Thor Balavage went up against Benny Hernandez in the 285-pound match. Neither wrestler took a lead in the first period. Balavage took the first lead in the second period with an escape. Hernandez evened the match in the third with an escape point before taking the decisive takedown claiming the final match of the evening in a 3-2 decision victory for the T-Birds.
Full Results
The Jets are back on the mats this weekend as they travel to Kearney Neb. To compete in the UNK Holiday Inn Open on Saturday (Nov. 17). The Open is set to begin at 9 a.m.
