After a scoreless first period, Hutchison drew first blood with an escape to start the second period and take a 1-0 lead. However, shortly after, Gunning earned a 2-point takedown to take a 2-1 lead. Another escape from Hutchison tied the match at two going into third. The difference proved to be a stall penalty on Hutchison in the third period that gave Gunning the 3-2 victory.
“I came in here last year and took second and didn’t get a bid,” Gunning said. “We’ve trained year round and it has paid off. Buffalo is coming up. We’re on the rise.”
Earlier in the day, Bryan Lantry lost an overtime heartbreaker to second seed John Erneste of Missouri in the 133 lb. final. With the score tied 2-2 in the first overtime period, it looked like Lantry earned a takedown that would have given him the title, but it wasn’t awarded and Erneste followed with a 2-point takedown to get the win. Lantry’s second-place finish still earned him a spot at the NCAA Championships for the second straight year.
Kyle Akins pinned Eastern Michigan’s Noah Gonser in his first match on Sunday to punch his ticket to the NCAA Tournament as well. With five qualifiers to the NCAAs for the conference at 125, Akins, who has been fighting through injuries over the last couple weeks, forfeited his spot in the third place final and finished fourth.
Thanks to a solid Saturday, Muhamed McBryde earned a spot in the 174-lb. third place final, with the winner going to the NCAA Tournament. However, McBryde lost a tight 5-4 decision to 2-seed C.J. Brucki of Central Michigan to deny him a chance at the NCAAs.
Elsewhere, Colt Cotten took seventh place in impressive fashion with a first-period pin of Kent State’s Tim Rooney. It was the final match of Cotten’s career.
Nate Rose also took seventh place in the 197-lb. match with a 5-4 decision over Eastern Michigan’s Derek Hillman.
Brett Perry lost in the fifth place final to Bryce Gorman of Northern Illinois to finish sixth in his first MAC Championship appearance.
“What a great day of wrestling,” head coach John Stutzman said. “We are improving rapidly. Two years ago we weren’t allowed in the conference or national tournament. We not only reestablished our great program, but I believe people are starting to take notice.”
As a team, the Bulls finished sixth overall with 80.5 points. Missouri won the overall team title.
Gunning, Lantry and Akins will all compete at the NCAA Championships beginning Thursday in St. Louis.
