Wrestling coaches corner at CCIW Championships

Men’s Wrestling Eyes NCAA Division III Regional Championships

Competition set for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-March 1

2/27/2025 2:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's wrestling team is headed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the second consecutive year for the NCAA Division III Region VI Wrestling Championships Friday and Saturday, Feb. 29-March 1. The American Rivers Conference will host this year's championships at Alliant Energy Powerhouse.

The regional championships come two weeks after the Titans competed at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championships, Feb. 15 in Decatur, Ill. The Green and White had representation in eight weight classes in the conference tournament that saw two Titans place among the top five in their respective brackets.

Senior Bobby Conroy (St. Louis, Mo.-St. Louis University High) finished the day in fourth place with a 3-2 record at 184 pounds. Following suit was sophomore Austin Johnston (Normal, Ill.-Normal West), who battled back in his first match of the 141-pound consolation bracket to finish 2-2 on the day for a fifth-place finish. Freshman Ameer Alamawi (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central) was named IWU's CCIW RESPECT Award recipient.

Conroy and Johnston are expected to compete this weekend alongside sophomores Alex Jackson (Harvey, Ill.-Bremen), Jeremy Olson (Tremont, Ill.-Tremont), and freshmen Elijah Villegas (Chicago, Ill.-Wells Community Academy), Jackson Castaneda (Oak Forest, Ill.- Oak Forest), Evan Carel (Hamilton, Ill.-Hamilton) and Chandler Gardner (Marengo, Ill.-Marian Central Catholic).

The Division III Region VI will feature 18 teams five of which are nationally ranked according to the latest National Wrestling Coaches' Association rankings poll. Fourth-ranked Wartburg, No. T-12 Loras, No. T-16 Coe, No. 20 Central, and No. T-23 Luther will be in attendance.

Regional competition will span Feb. 28-March 1, with Friday's preliminary rounds kicking off at 11 a.m. Saturday's championship semifinals and consolation third rounds are also set for an 11 a.m. start.

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