Results 

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's wrestling team defeated Buena Vista University 24-22, Friday, Jan 2 at the Shirk Center. The Titans (2-5, 1-5 CCIW) picked up six wins including a pair of pins at 133 and 141 pounds to take down the Beavers (1-5, 0-2 A-R-C).

Freshman Brady Mouser (Bloomington, Ill. - Tri-Valley) got a takedown early in the first period to put IWU on the board with an 8-4 decision over Tyler Japp. Fellow freshman Tyson Zvonar (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) pinned Jack Decker with just 10 seconds left to vault the Titans ahead, 10-0. One-hundred forty-one pound junior, Austin Johnston (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) needed less than a period to pin Jaxon Cozad, which put Illinois Wesleyan ahead, 15-0. It marked the fourth pin of the year for Johnston.

Sophomore Ameer Alamawi (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central) picked up the fourth straight win for the Titans with an 11-7 decision over Ben Bouaphakeo, which propelled IWU ahead, 18-0. However, the Beavers clawed back with a major decision at 157 pounds and a pin at 165 pounds.

Holding an 18-10 advantage entering the 174-pound bout, freshman Eli Moore (Highland Park, Ill.-Highland Park) got ahead early over Cam Campos, leading 8-3 at the end of the first period en route to a 10-3 decision to put IWU ahead by 11. Buena Vista earned six points via a forfeit at 184 pounds to cut the gap down to 21-16. 

Freshman Trey Dunning (Mishawaka, Ind.-Mishawaka) was tied with Luis Salazar with just seconds left before Dunning secured the dual with a takedown in the final seconds, resulting in a decision to increase the lead to 24-16. The Beavers earned a pin at 285 pounds to shrink the gap to 24-22, but the deficit was too much to overcome, as IWU held on for the victory.

This is the first home win for the Green and White since the program restarted prior to the 2023-2024 academic year. After a week off, the Titans compete at the Cliff Keen-Mike Duroe Invitational, hosted by Cornell College, Saturday, Jan 17. Action from Mt. Vernon, Iowa is scheduled for 9 a.m.