Carel and Conroy Place at Millikin Open

Carel finished fourth at 149 pounds, Conroy fourth at 184

11/9/2024 6:08:00 PM

DECATUR, Ill. – Showcasing ten wrestlers in its season opener, the Illinois Wesleyan University men's wrestling team had two Titans place at the loaded Millikin Open, Saturday, Nov. 9 inside the Decatur Indoor Sports Complex.

Three Titans picked up match wins in their collegiate debuts including freshmen Chandler Gardner (Marengo, Ill.-Marian Central Catholic), Evan Carel (Hamilton, Ill.-Hamilton), and Noah Passoni (Normal, Ill.-Normal West).

Carel was one of two Titans to place in the tournament after turning in a 2-2 record on the day. In the opening round of the 149-pound bracket, Carel defeated Bryce Brown of Mount St. Joseph with a major decision, 10-2. Carel fell to the consolation bracket after his second round but battled back in the consolation semifinal by pinning Chase Bremmer of Central College (5:36). Carel concluded his day in the third-place match where he fell to Linkyn Schardt of Thomas More in a 12-5 decision to finish fourth in his first collegiate tournament.

Sophomore Austin Johnston (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) won his first match of the day in a 5-2 decision over Jace Kennel of Cornell before dropping his second round at 141 pounds. Johnston went on to win three straight matches in the consolation bracket but ultimately fell in a 17-3 major decision to Ashton Massaro of Aurora.

Senior Bobby Conroy (St. Louis, Mo.-St. Louis University HS) wrestled in the 184-pound weight class and needed less than a minute to pin his first opponent of the day, Hugo Hernandez of Adrian College (0:49). His next match saw him win by way of an 8-2 decision over Nick Kendrick of Huntingdon College. Conroy nearly replicated that performance with a 9-2 decision over Zack Wagner of Wabash in the quarterfinals to take his spot in the semifinal.

Conroy met No. 10 nationally-ranked Cael McLaren of Cornell in the semifinal but took his first loss of the day to enter the third-place match against 14th-ranked Blake Williams of Adrian, falling by way of a 17-8 major decision.

IWU is set to host Millikin for its first ever home dual and Senior Day inside the Shirk Center next Friday, Nov. 15.

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