Grant Baker was the 133 pound champion at the Midwest Classic

The 20th-ranked Central Missouri Mules wrestling team crowned one champion and had five place winners en route to a sixth-place finish at the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis, Ind. over the weekend. Senior Grant Baker won the title at 133 pounds as the Mules racked up 80.5 team points. Newberry (S.C.) College won the 22-team tournament with 149.5 points.

Baker, the third-seed entering the tournament, won his first match by a 10-2 major decision over Adam Schlee of Augustana (S.D.) College. He pinned sixth-seeded Brandon Kirchner of Wisconsin-Parkside in 4:30 in the quarterfinals and received a medical forfeit in the semifinals over the No. 2 seed, Sheridan Moran of Newberry. In the finals, Baker made quick work of Jacob Bartley of Ashland (Ohio) University earning the fall in 1:27.

Other UCM place winners were junior William Forrest (4th at 149 pounds), junior Byron Clark (5th at 125), sophomore Brandon Hayes (5th at HWT) and junior Cory Bloodgood (6th at 141).

The Mules also sent wrestlers to the Ron Beamen/Dana College Open in Blair, Neb. on Saturday and returned with five placers. Juniors Jesse Whitson and Andrew Hicklin were the highest placing Mules with fourth place finishes at 149 and 165 pounds, respectively. Sophomore Cody Gillenwater placed sixth at 141 pounds; junior Matt Bailes finished two spots behind Hicklin in sixth place at 165 and freshman Phil Witt placed sixth at 174 pounds.