Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Midlands Championships
Hartman Headlines Stellar Finish at Midlands Championships
December 30, 2019 | Wrestling
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — The Army West Point wrestling team continues to show it belongs among the nations best.
As was true Monday at the Midlands Championships, where the Black Knights set individual and team bests at one of the most premiere college wrestling tournaments in the country.
"This is a team that continues to raise the standard and expectations of what Army West Point wrestling is capable of," said head coach Kevin Ward. "Our highest team finish, most placers ever, and highest individual placer. All of that shows that these guys believe in themselves and believe in each other. We look forward to continuing to raise the bar."
Army placed six wrestlers on the podium over the two days of competition, doubling the previous academy record set last year of three. The Black Knights also finished seventh in the team standings out of 35 teams. Their 78.5 total points topped last years previous high of 68 points. Iowa took the overall team title this year with 196.5 points.
Sophomore Markus Hartman led the way competing at 157 pounds. The Barrington, Ill native, having already scored upsets over the No.1 and No. 6 seeds on day one, began Monday with a thrilling 9-8 decision win over the No. 4 seeded Anthony Artalona of Penn in the semifinal. That set up a final versus the two seeded Kaleb Young of Iowa. Hartman hung toe-to-toe with one of the top collegiate wrestlers in the country, but came up just short in sudden victory, dropping a 5-3 decision.
Hartman's second place finish is the highest ever placing at the Midlands by an Army West Point wrestler, having surpassed Rocco Caywood (2018) and Jim Gressley (1991) fourth place finishes.
"Markus Hartman looked incredible all weekend," said Ward. "He looked confident, composed, and determined to show what he is capable of. He knows without a doubt he can beat anyone in the country. Proud of him and happy for him to have a performance like he did this weekend."
Senior Ben Harvey finished fourth overall at 174 pounds. After dropping a 3-1 decision in sudden victory to Dylan Lydy of Purdue in the semifinals, Harvey bounced back with a fall victory over Donnell Washington of Indiana to put himself in the third-place match. In a tough contest, Harvey came up just short to Joey Gunther of Illinois, dropping a 4-2 decision.
Noah Stewart was sixth overall at 184 pounds. Stewart went 4-3 over the two days, including a technical fall victory.
Two Cadets placed at 197 pounds — J.T. Brown (7th) and Alex Hopkins (8th). Brown went 5-2 overall, including a fall win. Hopkins was 4-3 over the two days, and also scored a pin.
The final individual placer for the Black Knights was heavyweight Bobby Heald, who was eighth overall. Heald scored two upsets on the weekend, defeating both the No. 7 and No. 10 seeded wrestlers.
FINAL RESULTS
125 Justin Cardani Champaign, IL (Illinois) DEC Ryan Chauvin West Point, NY (Army West Point), 6-5
125 Jose Diaz Lancaster, PA (Franklin & Marshall) DEC Ryan Chauvin West Point, NY (Army West Point), 8-5
133 Lane Peters West Point, NY (Army West Point) F Dylan Utterback Evanston, IL (Northwestern), 6:05
133 Gregg Wert Harrisburg, PA (Army West Point) MD Michael Jaffe St. Charles, IL (Harvard), 10-2
133 Lane Peters West Point, NY (Army West Point) F Drew Bennett Fort Dodge, IA (Northern Iowa), 1:57
133 Seth Gross Apple Valley, MN (Wisconsin) TF Gregg Wert Harrisburg, PA (Army West Point), 17-2 3:59
133 Noah Gonser Ypsilanti, MI (Campbell) DEC Lane Peters West Point, NY (Army West Point), 5-3
133 Jack Skudlarczyk Austin, TX (Northern Iowa) DEC Gregg Wert Harrisburg, PA (Army West Point), 6-0
133 Jack Skudlarczyk Austin, TX (Northern Iowa) DEC Lane Peters West Point, NY (Army West Point), 8-6
141 Michael Blockhus Cresco, IA (Northern Iowa) MD Logan Brown Allen, TX (Army West Point), 18-5
141 Justin Stickley Urbana, OH (Iowa) DEC Corey Shie West Point, NY (Army West Point), 9-3
141 Lawrence Saenz Vacaville, CA (Fresno State) MD Corey Shie West Point, NY (Army West Point), 17-8
141 Nathan Swartz Duncansville, PA (Northern Illinois) F Logan Brown Allen, TX (Army West Point), 2:14
149 Pj Ogunsanya West Point, NY (Army West Point) DEC Patrick Ryan Washington, DC (American), 9-4
149 Tyshawn Williams Edwardsville, IL (SIUE) DEC Pj Ogunsanya West Point, NY (Army West Point), 5-2
149 Pj Ogunsanya West Point, NY (Army West Point) DEC Josh Breeding OH (Princeton), 7-3
149 Pj Ogunsanya West Point, NY (Army West Point) MD Aaron Kruk Naperville, IL (Harvard), 13-4
149 Jacob Butler Elgin, OK (Oklahoma) DEC Pj Ogunsanya West Point, NY (Army West Point), 5-2
157 Markus Hartman Barrington, IL (Army West Point) DEC Cade Devos Brookings, SD (South Dakota State), 4-2
157 Markus Hartman Barrington, IL (Army West Point) DEC Jack Bokina Mattituck, NY (Brown), 9-2
157 Kaleb Young Punxsutawney, PA (Iowa) DEC Markus Hartman Barrington, IL (Army West Point), 5-3 SV
157 Markus Hartman Barrington, IL (Army West Point) DEC Quincy Monday Chapel Hill, NC (Princeton), 4-2 SV
157 Markus Hartman Barrington, IL (Army West Point) F Logan Parks Taylor, MI (Central Michigan), 4:07
157 Markus Hartman Barrington, IL (Army West Point) DEC Anthony Artalona Seffner, FL (Penn), 9-8
165 Cael Mccormick West Point, NY (Army West Point) DEC Tim Noverini St. Charles, IL (Omega Training Center), 3-1
165 Cael Mccormick West Point, NY (Army West Point) F Ankhaa Enkhmandakh Walnut Creek, CA (Northwestern), 2:30
165 Danny Braunagel O'Fallon, IL (Illinois) F Mason Smith Verona, KY (Army West Point), 4:27
165 Mason Smith Verona, KY (Army West Point) TF Joseph Terry Athens, OH (Ohio), 21-3 2:50
165 Jake Keating Charlottesville, VA (Virginia) DEC Cael Mccormick West Point, NY (Army West Point), 8-6
165 Zack Velasquez DeKalb, IL (Northern Illinois) DEC Mason Smith Verona, KY (Army West Point), 5-1
165 Cael Mccormick West Point, NY (Army West Point) DEC Conor Melbourne Princeton, NJ (Princeton), 7-3
165 Cameron Amine Brighton, MI (Michigan) DEC Cael Mccormick West Point, NY (Army West Point), 2-0
174 Ben Harvey West Point, NY (Army West Point) DEC Kenny Moore DeKalb, IL (Northern Illinois), 6-0
174 Brandon Martino Clovis, CA (Fresno State) DEC Brad Laughlin West Point, NY (Army West Point), 4-3
174 Joey Gunther Champaign, IL (Illinois) DEC Ben Harvey West Point, NY (Army West Point), 4-2
174 Ben Harvey West Point, NY (Army West Point) DEC Nathan Dugan Mooresville, NC (Princeton), 6-1
174 Lennox Wolak Dublin, OH (Columbia) DEC Brad Laughlin West Point, NY (Army West Point), 5-3
174 Ben Harvey West Point, NY (Army West Point) DEC Jacob Covaciu Bloomington, IN (Indiana), 3-1 SV
174 Dylan Lydy West Lafayette, IN (Purdue) DEC Ben Harvey West Point, NY (Army West Point), 3-1 SV
174 Ben Harvey West Point, NY (Army West Point) F Donnell Washington Bloomington, IN (Indiana), 3:24
184 Andrew Morgan Buies Creek, NC (Campbell) DEC Noah Stewart West Point, NY (Army West Point), 6-4
184 Noah Stewart West Point, NY (Army West Point) DEC Michael Battista Ashburn, VA (Virginia), 4-2 SV
184 Zachary Braunagel O'Fallon, IL (Illinois) TF Jed Smith West Point, NY (Army West Point), 20-2 6:16
184 Noah Stewart West Point, NY (Army West Point) DEC Robert Striggow Long Lake, MN (Michigan), 6-0
184 Hunter Yeargan Athens, OH (Ohio) DEC Jed Smith West Point, NY (Army West Point), 2-0
184 Andrew Morgan Buies Creek, NC (Campbell) DEC Noah Stewart West Point, NY (Army West Point), 5-3
184 Noah Stewart West Point, NY (Army West Point) TF Hunter Cruz Moses Lake, WA (Fresno State), 16-0 6:31
184 Noah Stewart West Point, NY (Army West Point) M FOR Johnny Sebastian Ramsey, NJ (Wisconsin)
184 Zachary Braunagel O'Fallon, IL (Illinois) DEC Noah Stewart West Point, NY (Army West Point), 3-1
197 Alexander Hopkins West Point, NY (Army West Point) F Brendan Devine Evanston, IL (Northwestern), 4:33
197 J.T. Brown Elyria, OH (Army West Point) F Aric Bohn Edwardsville, IL (SIUE), 0:45
197 Alexander Hopkins West Point, NY (Army West Point) DEC Jake Kleimola Bloomington, IN (Indiana), 6-1
197 Jay Aiello VA (Virginia) DEC J.T. Brown Elyria, OH (Army West Point), 5-3
197 Alexander Hopkins West Point, NY (Army West Point) DEC Thomas Lane Garden City, NY (Cal Poly), 6-5
197 J.T. Brown Elyria, OH (Army West Point) DEC Zach Glazier Albert Lea, MN (Iowa), 2-0
197 Jay Aiello VA (Virginia) DEC Alexander Hopkins West Point, NY (Army West Point), 6-5 TB2
197 J.T. Brown Elyria, OH (Army West Point) DEC Thomas Lane Garden City, NY (Cal Poly), 4-3
197 J.T. Brown Elyria, OH (Army West Point) DEC Lucas Davison Evanston, IL (Northwestern), 5-4 TB2
197 Alexander Hopkins West Point, NY (Army West Point) DEC Matt Wroblewski Prospect, IL (Illinois), 6-1
197 Hunter Ritter Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota) DEC J.T. Brown Elyria, OH (Army West Point), 4-2
197 Gage Braun DeKalb, IL (Northern Illinois) DEC Alexander Hopkins West Point, NY (Army West Point), 7-5
197J.T. Brown Elyria, OH (Army West Point) M FOR Alexander Hopkins West Point, NY (Army West Point)
285 Ben Sullivan West Point, NY (Army West Point) DEC Ben Goldin Orlando, FL (Penn), 3-1
285 Bobby Heald Bedford, NH (Army West Point) DEC Colton Mckiernan Edwardsville, IL (SIUE), 11-4
285 Carter Isley Cedar Falls, IA (Northern Iowa) DEC Ben Sullivan West Point, NY (Army West Point), 3-2
285 Bobby Heald Bedford, NH (Army West Point) DEC Andrew Gunning Chapel Hill, NC (North Carolina), 5-4
285 Ben Sullivan West Point, NY (Army West Point) F Joey Slackman Philadelphia, PA (Penn), 4:13
285 Trent Hillger Holly, MI (Wisconsin) MD Bobby Heald Bedford, NH (Army West Point), 9-1
285 Aaron Costello Dubuque, IA (Iowa) DEC Ben Sullivan West Point, NY (Army West Point), 2-1 TB2
285 Bobby Heald Bedford, NH (Army West Point) DEC Thomas Penola West Lafayette, IN (Purdue), 5-2
285 Yaraslau Slavikouski ReÄyca, Gomel Region (Harvard) DEC Bobby Heald Bedford, NH (Army West Point), 3-2
285 Zach Elam Columbia, MO (Missouri) DEC Bobby Heald Bedford, NH (Army West Point), 6-0
UP NEXT
Army will welcome North Carolina, American, and Wyoming to West Point on Jan. 4 for the West Point Duals beginning at 12 p.m.
Players Mentioned
