Wrestling Announces Team Awards, Johnston and Feruzi Named Team MVPs

Twelve Titans earn letters

5/6/2025 3:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University interim head men's and women's wrestling coach Adam Richards announced the program's team award recipients for the 2024-25 season. Sophomore Austin Johnston (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) and freshman Sifa Feruzi (Denver, Colo,-Macomb Senior) were named the men's and women's Most Valuable Player, respectively.

The 2024-25 season saw the first dual win for the men's program and marked the first official season of competition for the women's team.

In addition to earning MVP awards, Johnston and Feruzi also earned the Most Falls awards. Johnston, serving as a captain alongside senior Bobby Conroy (St. Louis, Mo.-St. Louis University HS), posted a 17-15 overall record and 4-4 dual action on the year and totaled seven pins. Johnston also received the Wrestling Leadership Award. Feruzi, the first-ever All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin honoree for the IWU women's wrestling team, turned in a record of 5-13 on the season with two falls. Feruzi was also named the women's team's Most Improved Wrestler.

Sophomore Jeremy Olson (Tremont, Ill.-Tremont), who moved into the 174-pound weight class this season, was named IWU's Most Improved Wrestler. After going 0-10 as a freshman, Olson posted a 3-12 record in his sophomore season with a 2-2 dual record and three pins.

Freshman Ameer Alamawi (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central) and sophomore Alexander Jackson (Harvey, Ill.-Bremen) shared the men's Rookie of the Year Award. Alamawi had a strong start to the season with a 10-10 record before an injury cut his season short. Jackson came into the season late following the completion of the Titan football season. Jackson, only competing in four weekends on the year, posted a 6-5 overall record and went 2-0 in CCIW dual action. Jackson became IWU's first-ever CCIW Wrestler of the Week honoree after going 3-1 for a second-place finish at 285 pounds at the Brown Terrell UD Invite.

Senior Omar AlQammaz (Orland Park, Ill.-Victor J. Andrew) and freshman Vanessa Gray (Burlington, Ontario, Canada-Dr. Frank J. Hayden) received the Highest GPA Awards. The Coaches' Appreciation honorees on the men's side were freshman Lucas Blanton (Dixon, Ill.-Amboy) and Alamawi. On the women's side, freshman Faith Comas (Cicero, Ill.-J. Sterling Morton East) and Gray received the award.

In total, Coach Richards lettered 12 Titans and returns 11 men and three women for the 2025-26 season.

First Letter
Ameer Alamawi
Evan Carel
Lucas Blanton
Jackson Castaneda
Chandler Gardner
Alexander Jackson
Elijah Villegas
Sifa Feruzi

Second Letter
Omar AlQammaz
Bobby Conroy
Austin Johnston
Jeremy Olson

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