Matt Gille may be a freshman, but he stepped up like a seasoned veteran with the spotlight shining bright on Sunday.

Gille pinned Newberry junior Josh Whitelock in the championship match at 165 pounds to propel the UW-Parkside wrestling team to the team title in the 32nd annual Midwest Classic at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis.

The eighth-ranked Rangers won the two-day, 22-team meet with 127 points, while second-ranked Newberry (S.C.) was second with 1171/2. No. 10 Adams State was third with 110.

“We were trying to think when the last time we’ve won it,” longtime UWP coach Jim Koch said. “I think we’ve competed in this tournament for about 30 years. We won it a couple of time backs in the 80s.”

After defeating Jarod Shaw of West Liberty in the semifinals, 5-1, the eighth-seeded Gille pinned the third-seeded Whitelock in 6:01. Whitelock was named the tourney’s Most Outstanding Wrestler last year in helping Newberry win the team title.

“At that time, it was pretty close between us and Newberry,” Koch said. “We had three in the finals and they had four in the finals, but that was the only head-to-head. So, that match really counted double. Whoever won that match was probably going to win the tournament. Not only did he win the match, but he got the pin. That was huge.”

All 10 wrestlers scored for Parkside and nine placed in the top eight.

Cody Zimmerman (125) and Craig Becker (149) also advanced to the finals before losing. Zimmerman was defeated by ArseniaBarksdale of Adams State, while Becker was pinned by Mitch Smith of West Liberty in 4:53.

Also placing for the Rangers were Luke Haag (third, 184), Luke Rynish (fifth, 174), Dillon Bera (sixth, 157), Jon Treml (seventh, 197), Brandon Kirchner (eighth, 133) and Mike Migawa (eighth, 141).

Compiled by Andrew Horschak