McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University men's wrestling team wrapped up its 2024 schedule at the North Central College Invitational in Naperville, Illinois, on December 14. The team will resume competition on January 6.

Sophomore Austin Johnston from Normal, Illinois, competed in the 141-pound bracket and finished with a 2-2 record. He began the day by pinning Cale Stonitsch of UW-Whitewater in 2:36. After losing his second match, Johnston returned to win against CJ Goy of Carthage with a pin at 1:29 before exiting after his fourth match.

In the 149-pound category, freshman Ameer Alamawi from New Lenox, Illinois, ended his second bout with a tiebreaker victory over Chase Kostka of Coe by a score of 5-2. A medical forfeit placed Alamawi against Tyler Starr of North Central for his final match of the day, resulting in a 2-2 record.

Freshman Elijah Villegas from Chicago received an opening-round bye in the 197-pound bracket and then faced KC Brichta of Carthage. Villegas won by pinning Brichta at 2:44.

Freshman Chandler Gardner from Marengo secured an exciting win in the 125-pound bracket. He achieved a buzzer-beating takedown to defeat Kayden Mueller of Midland with a close decision score of 10-9.

The meet marked the end of Illinois Wesleyan's competitions for this year. The Titans are set to return on January 6 for a triangular event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they will compete against Milwaukee School of Engineering and Carthage in two College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin duals.