INDIANAPOLIS – The final tournament of 2025 for Maryville wrestling wrapped up Sunday as the Saints battled at the ever-challenging 46th Annual Midwest Classic in Indianapolis. The University of Indianapolis hosted the mega tournament, featuring ranked teams and wrestlers from across the country competing in the Circle City. Six Saints competed, with Cole Ritter's sixth-place finish at 174 pounds standing as the team's top result.
 
INS & OUTS
Cole Ritter, entering the tournament as the No. 1 seed, was dominant on day one. After receiving a bye, Ritter opened with a technical fall before following it up with a major decision over UIndy's Shane Bates. He closed the day with a 7-3 decision over Zeke Walts of McKendree, his second win over Walts this season, to advance to the semifinals.
 
Day two did not go Ritter's way, as he dropped his next three matches to finish sixth overall. He suffered close losses to the No. 10, No. 12, and No. 14-ranked wrestlers to conclude his tournament.

Mustafa Salimi got off to a fast start, earning a 10-0 major decision in his opening bout before following it with a 15-10 win in the second round. The victory sent him to a rematch with Sam Richardson of McKendree for a spot in the quarterfinals. Salimi surrendered a third-period takedown in that match, falling 4-1 and dropping into the consolation bracket. He picked up two more wins there to finish the tournament 4-2.
 
At 125 pounds, Elijah Almarinez opened his first Midwest Classic with a technical fall before dropping an 8-3 decision to No. 3-ranked Anthony Aniciete of Tiffin. Almarinez earned another extra-point victory in the consolation bracket before falling 8-3 to No. 8 Nate Smith of Indianapolis to end his run.
 
Nick Zamora at 157 pounds and Orest Nazarchuk both posted 3-2 records at the tournament, while Kody Ketchum went 1-2 to round out the Saints' action in Indianapolis.

FULL MIDWEST CLASSIC RESULTS
125 - Elijah Almarinez
Champ. Round 1 - Elijah Almarinez (Maryville) 10-5 won by tech fall over Isaac Ronquillo (Jamestown (N.D.)) 2-2 (TF-1.5 5:48 (18-1))
Champ. Round 2 – No. 3 Anthony Aniciete (Tiffin) 4-2 won by decision over Elijah Almarinez (Maryville) 10-5 (Dec 8-3)
Cons. Round 2 - Elijah Almarinez (Maryville) 10-5 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Elijah Almarinez (Maryville) 10-5 won by major decision over Treyton Ackman (Upper Iowa) 11-3 (MD 14-3)
Cons. Round 4 – No. 8 Nathan Smith (Indianapolis) 8-3 won by decision over Elijah Almarinez (Maryville) 10-5 (Dec 8-3)
 
141 - Kody Ketchum
Champ. Round 1 - Kody Ketchum (Maryville) 2-6 won by decision over Jaiden Hernandez (Bridgeport) 0-2 (Dec 8-6)
Champ. Round 2 - Collin Twigg (Grand Valley State) 7-9 won by decision over Kody Ketchum (Maryville) 2-6 (Dec 2-0)
Cons. Round 2 - Issac Chavarria (Western Colorado) 4-6 won by major decision over Kody Ketchum (Maryville) 2-6 (MD 11-3)
 
157 - Nick Zamora
Champ. Round 1 - Zamora (Maryville) 5-5 won by major decision over Tate Condezo (Southwest Minnesota State) 11-5 (MD 16-4)
Champ. Round 2 - Vincent Cabral (Western Colorado) 11-5 won by decision over Zamora (Maryville) 5-5 (Dec 9-7)
Cons. Round 2 - Zamora (Maryville) 5-5 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Zamora (Maryville) 5-5 won by decision over Jonathan Fogus (Shorter) 8-7 (Dec 8-1)
Cons. Round 4 - Zamora (Maryville) 5-5 won by decision over Jacob Williams (Northern State) 10-7 (Dec 12-11)
Cons. Round 5 - Preston Klostermann (Upper Iowa) 20-4 won by fall over Zamora (Maryville) 5-5 (Fall 2:34)
 
165 - Mustafa Salimi
Champ. Round 1 - Mustafa Salimi (Maryville) 9-5 won by major decision over Elijah Brown (King) 4-7 (MD 10-0)
Champ. Round 2 - Mustafa Salimi (Maryville) 9-5 won by decision over Jacob Blandford (Western Colorado) 7-6 (Dec 15-10)
Champ. Round 3 - Sam Richardson (McKendree) 5-2 won by decision over Mustafa Salimi (Maryville) 9-5 (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 4 - Mustafa Salimi (Maryville) 9-5 won by decision over Jackson Jones (Quincy) 12-7 (Dec 6-3)
Cons. Round 5 - Mustafa Salimi (Maryville) 9-5 won in sudden victory - 1 over Chase Bish (Millersville) 2-2 (SV-1 8-5)
Cons. Round 6 - Bryce Dauphin (Central Oklahoma) 6-5 won by major decision over Mustafa Salimi (Maryville) 9-5 (MD 14-3)
 
174 - Cole Ritter – Sixth Place
Champ. Round 1 - Cole Ritter (Maryville) 10-6 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Cole Ritter (Maryville) 10-6 won by tech fall over Skyler Geer (Newman) 1-2 (TF-1.5 5:46 (17-2))
Champ. Round 3 - Cole Ritter (Maryville) 10-6 won by major decision over Shane Bates (Indianapolis) 9-5 (MD 11-1)
Quarterfinal - Cole Ritter (Maryville) 10-6 won by decision over Zeke Waltz (McKendree) 2-2 (Dec 7-3)
Semifinal - Sevriano Garza (Ashland) 12-1 won by decision over Cole Ritter (Maryville) 10-6 (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Semi - Clinton Morrisette (King) 18-4 won by decision over Cole Ritter (Maryville) 10-6 (Dec 4-2)
5th Place Match - Hunter Jump (Central Oklahoma) 7-4 won by decision over Cole Ritter (Maryville) 10-6 (Dec 4-1)
 
285 - Orest Nazarchuk
Champ. Round 1 - Orest Nazarchuk (Maryville) 10-5 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Cooper Caraway (UW-Parkside) 2-2 won by decision over Orest Nazarchuk (Maryville) 10-5 (Dec 6-3)
Cons. Round 2 - Orest Nazarchuk (Maryville) 10-5 won by fall over Anthony Herron (Allen) 0-2 (Fall 6:42)
Cons. Round 3 - Orest Nazarchuk (Maryville) 10-5 won by major decision over Jose DelToro (Upper Iowa) 7-8 (MD 10-1)
Cons. Round 4 - Orest Nazarchuk (Maryville) 10-5 won by injury default over Mikey Lytle (Salem) 4-6 (Inj. 4:21)

UP NEXT
The Saints wrap up their 2025 half of the season, facing off against Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla., Friday, Dec. 19.