Langley places eighth at regionals

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Fifth-year senior Shyler Langley closed his career with an eighth place finish at the NCAA Division III Lower Midwest Regional, leading the Simpson College men's wrestling team at the two-day event.

Langley began the tournament with an 18-0 technical fall over Fontbonne's Connor Morin. He went ahead 12-0 after the first period thanks to a takedown and 10 back points and added another takedown and four-point nearfall in the second to earn the victory in 3:51.

In the quarterfinal match, Langley dropped a slim 5-3 decision to the eventual 174-pound runner-up, LJ Richardson (Coe). He bounced back with an 8-1 win over Luther's Braeden Handel though, advancing to the second day of competition. On Saturday, he lost 9-4 to Joey Jens of North Central before Zeth Gerkensmeyer of Nebraska Wesleyan avenged a loss to Langley earlier this season with a 13-3 major decision. Langley finishes his collegiate career with 87 victories.

Zach Stewart (133), Robert Silva (165) and Shane Mathias (197) all won twice on Friday, but fell one match shy of a guaranteed placing. Stewart pinned Peter Hollingshead (Luther) in 4:39 and beat Nathan Berta (Eureka) with an 18-6 major decision, Silva defeated Holden Soares (Schreiner) 19-5 and Harry Rodriguez (Fontbonne) 7-0, and Mathias earned a 6-3 win over Cade Scott (Millikin) before edging Daniel Benoit (Ozarks) 3-1 in overtime.

Dylan McChesney (125) and Kanin Hable (133) were victorious in their first matches but dropped the next two to conclude their seasons. Both wins came against fellow American Rivers Conference wrestlers as McChesney took down Buena Vista's Brandon Foster 4-0 and Hable defeated Loras' Mason McMillen.

Josh Bower (149) stayed alive after the first consolation round with a 15-0 technical fall over Bradden Davis of Eureka, but lost 10-3 in his next match to close his senior campaign.

Meet Report
125 - Dylan McChesney: 1-2
133 - Kanin Hable: 1-2
133 - Zach Stewart: 2-2
149 - Josh Bower: 1-2
157 - Riley Kovaleski: 0-2
165 - Robert Silva: 2-2
174 - Shyler Langley: 2-3, 8th place
184 - Caden Elliot: 0-2
197 - Shane Mathias: 2-2
285 - Colton Kinnison: 0-2