KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Southeastern University redshirt sophomore Wyatt Kirkham was named the NAIA Wrestler of the Week for his work on Saturday to help the Fire defeat No. 15 Hastings.
 
The Stuart native defeated third-ranked Taygen Smith in his 165-pound match during the Fire Duals to help SEU to a 37-9 victory and improve to 10-2 on the year. Kirkham took a 3-2 lead to start the third after choosing bottom and being given an escape. He then had to fight off multiple shots by the returning All-American before scoring a takedown with 37 seconds left to come away with a 5-2 win and improve to 11-7 on the year.
 
Kirkham is just the second Fire wrestler since 2015 to earn this award, joining current graduate assistant Olson Delisca on November 22, 2017.
 
Southeastern returns to action this weekend at the Missouri Valley Invitational.

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LAKELAND, Fla. — No. 7 Southeastern finished the Fire Duals with a 2-0 record, knocking off Keiser and No. 15 Hastings both by the scores of 37-6.
 
Against Keiser, the Fire picked up a forfeit at 197, and a pin by Trillyon Fils-Aime at 184. Sal Silvastarted the match with an 18-3 technical fall at 157. Stephen Kelle (174), and Kael Brisker (141) also scored techs.
 
In the match against Hastings, the Broncos took the first match and a 3-0 lead after a tough loss for Trace Braun who got the first takedown of the match but followed with an upset win by Wyatt Kirkham over No. 3 and returning All-American Taygen Smith by the count of 5-2. With the bout tied 2-2 going to the third, Kirkham was given an escape to start the period and fended off numerous shots by Smith and ultimately scored on a takedown with 36 seconds remaining and rode out the match for the win.
 
“I knew that I needed to stick with my leg attacks and I would be alright,” Kirkham said. “It gives me more confidence because it’s pretty much my first year wrestling in college after redshirting and coming back from an injury, so it feels good to finally be able to wrestle.”
 
Gage Braun picked up another win at 285, coming away with a technical fall, as did Xavier Williamsonat 133.
 
“I thought they were two good team wins and pretty unique we finished with the same score,” said coach Travis Patrick. “We had a ton of good matches across the board, even in losses.”
 
The Fire will head to the Missouri Valley Invitational next weekend in Marshall, Mo.  
 
SOUTHEASTERN 37, KEISER 6
157 – Salvador Silva (Southeastern) over George Zertopoulis (Keiser University ) TF 18-3
165 – Dominick Lomazzo (Southeastern) over Adam El-Damir (Keiser University ) Dec 6-4
174 – Stephen Kelle (Southeastern) over Mitchell Clark (Keiser University ) TF 17-2
184 – Trillyon Fils-Aime (Southeastern) over Brett Bosserman (Keiser University ) Fall 2:55
197 – Blake Rypel (Southeastern) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
285 – Earnest Johnson (Keiser University ) over Caleb Hardeman (Southeastern) Dec 6-2
125 – Isaac Crowell (Southeastern) over Riley Stevens (Keiser University ) Dec 6-0
133 – Bryce Gonzalez (Keiser University ) over Michael Bush (Southeastern) Dec 4-1
141 – Kael Brisker (Southeastern) over James Berline (Keiser University ) TF 21-6
149 – Andreus Bond (Southeastern) over Carlos Bogan (Keiser University ) Maj 19-5
 
SOUTHEASTERN 37, HASTINGS 6
157 – Thomas Stevenson (Hastings (Neb.)) over Trace Braun (Southeastern) Dec 9-4
165 – Wyatt Kirkham (Southeastern) over Taygen Smith (Hastings (Neb.)) Dec 5-2
174 – Trenton Munoz (Hastings (Neb.)) over Stephen Kelle (Southeastern) Dec 8-2
184 – Trillyon Fils-Aime (Southeastern) over Dominick Leon (Hastings (Neb.)) Dec 6-0
197 – Blake Rypel (Southeastern) over Riley Dement (Hastings (Neb.)) Fall 0:26
285 – Gage Braun (Southeastern) over Henry Jones (Hastings (Neb.)) TF 16-1
125 – Isaac Crowell (Southeastern) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
133 – Xavier Williamson (Southeastern) over Andy Rojas (Hastings (Neb.)) TF 21-4
141 – Kael Brisker (Southeastern) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
149 – Maxwell Kauffman (Southeastern) over Dylan Crawford (Hastings (Neb.)) Dec 9-4

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