Choinski Leads Titans At Pointer Open
Mark Choinski placed third in his weight class and Levi Smith sixth to lead the UW-Oshkosh wrestling team at the Pointer Open on Saturday (Nov. 7) in Stevens Point.
Choinski produced a 5-1 record in the 16-competitor, 157-pound weight division. He won his first match, 4-1, over NCAA Division II opponent Brandt Welcher from UW-Parkside before being pinned in 1:58 by eventual champion Eric Schmid from Division I University of Wisconsin.
Choinski rebounded from the pin with four straight wins to secure third place. He defeated UW-Stevens Point's Jaden Boivin by a 12-4 score before pinning unattached Dominic Taus in 1:43 and downing UW-Stevens Point's Anthony Friese, 6-3. Choinski won a 9-2 decision over Welcher in the third-place match.
Smith won his first two matches in the 16-wrestler, 141-pound weight class before suffering three straight defeats. He opened with a 4-3 victory over Ben Henle from Saint John's University (Minn.) and a 9-2 win over unattached Dearion Stokes. Smith then lost a 15-0 result to eventual champion Eli Stickley from the University of Wisconsin
Jimmy Nehls from Elmhurst College (Ill.) won a 9-2 decision over Smith in the consolation semifinals, and Adam Presler from Concordia College (Minn.) defeated Smith, 7-3, in the fifth-place match.
UW-Oshkosh's Corey Knudsen produced a 3-2 record at 149 pounds. He won his first two bouts by a 16-14 sudden victory count over Lakeland College's Cole Gonzalez in the opening round and an 11-5 decision over Howie Olson from Harper College (Ill.) in the second round.
Ty Johnson from Concordia College then pinned Knudsen in 4:10. Knudsen answered back with a 12-10 sudden victory over UW-Parkside's Cody Walrath before getting pinned by Harper College's Cory Pych in 1:52.
Finishing with 2-2 records for the Titans in the 149-pound weight division were Nate Arquinego, Hunter Mulock and Joe Pelkey. UW-Oshkosh's Nick Monty produced a 2-2 record at 165 pounds.
Marking 1-2 records for UW-Oshkosh were Derek Hermanson at 157 pounds and Patrick Reilly at 165.
Titans Elijah Burdick and Chris Yaros both registered 1-2 records in the 285-pound weight division.
Also competing for UW-Oshkosh and going winless in two bouts were Chris Alfonso, Ethan Fredericks and Fernando Sanchez at 165 pounds; and Michael Berg and Ryan Meyer at 184.
UW-Oshkosh hosts the 13th annual Dan Gable Open next Saturday (Nov. 14) in Kolf Sports Center.