INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Davenport men's wrestling team concluded the 2021 calendar year on Saturday at the prestigious Midwest Classic hosted by the University of Indianapolis. The competition featured over 40 schools and some of the best wrestlers in the country. The Panthers did not have anyone wrestle on Sunday because you needed to advance to the top 12 in your weight class. The one exception was Manuel Leija who could have competed but had to withdraw due to injury.

Leija at 125 pounds won his first match against Isaac Jacquez of Lindenwood 3-1 and then after a loss in the next round came back for two more wins before the medical forfeit. He beat Caden Howard of Drury 5-3 and Anthony Pisciotta of Maryville by sudden victory fall at 7:42.

Tyson Emmons won by fall in 2:47 during his first match at 141 pounds over Omar Armengol of Coker before dropping his next two matches. Crue Cooper at 197 pounds during prelims got a win by fall at 4:39 against Kaleb Haven of Newberry and then dropped his next two matches.

 

River Fox at 285 pounds had a solid showing and had one of the quickest matches in school history during prelims with an 18-second fall victory over Gabriel Croom of Lincoln Memorial. The next matchup was a rarity in which Fox lost in a tiebreaker 3-2 against Devon Rice of Newberry. He responded with two more wins against Trevor Hankins of Central Missouri by major decision 8-0 and a 4-2 decision over Isaiah Vance of Pitt-Johnstown.