YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Chris Mecate earned his first MAC Championship and Jack Dechow finished as the runner-up on the final day of the 2016 Mid-American Conference Championships at Eastern Michigan's Convocation Center.
Returning All-American Mecate received a medical forfeit over Missouri's Matt Manley in the finals after Manley became injured in his semi victory yesterday over Zach Horan of Central Michigan. With the victory, Mecate became ODU's second-ever Mid-American Conference champion and claimed the second conference title of his career, as he won the CAA crown in 2013.
Jack Dechow fell in the 184 finals to Jordan Ellingwood of CMU, 7-3. Dechow trailed 3-2 late in the third period before Ellingwood secured a takedown and two quick nearfall points to earn the 7-3 victory.
Brandon Jeske punched his ticket to his third NCAA Championships via a 4-2 victory over Buffalo's Kyle Akins in the consolation semifinals. The junior from Virginia Beach dropped his third place bout to Central Michigan's Brent Fleetwood, 4-0, to finish fourth.
Alexander Richardson dropped a heartbreaker in the consolation semifinals to EMU's Nick Barber, 6-4, before losing to Buffalo's Colt Cotten via disqualification in the fifth place bout.
Jeske, Mecate and Dechow will prepare for the 2016 NCAA Championships at Madison Square Garden in New York City from March 17-19. At-large selections for the NCAAs will be announced on March 9.
ODU Results - Day 2
Cons. Semi - Brandon Jeske (Old Dominion) 18-11 won by decision over Kyle Akins (Buffalo) 19-13 (Dec 4-2)
3rd Place Match - Brent Fleetwood (Central Michigan) 19-11 won by decision over Brandon Jeske (Old Dominion) 18-11 (Dec 4-0)
1st Place Match - Chris Mecate (Old Dominion) 21-6 won by medical forfeit over Matt Manley (Missouri) 27-7 (M. For.)
Cons. Semi - Nick Barber (Eastern Michigan) 18-9 won by decision over Alexander Richardson (Old Dominion) 21-8 (Dec 6-4)
5th Place Match - Colt Cotten (Buffalo) 13-9 won by disqualification over Alexander Richardson (Old Dominion) 21-8 (DQ)
1st Place Match - Jordan Ellingwood (Central Michigan) 28-12 won by decision over Jack Dechow (Old Dominion) 18-3 (Dec 7-3)