Wrestling Tallies 5 Placers En Route to 4th Place at Wheaton Invite

1/28/2023 6:08:00 PM | By: JCUSID

Patrick McGraw surpassed 100 career wins and won the 157-pound title.

WHEATON, Ill. – Despite being shorthanded with a number of wrestlers out with injuries, John Carroll Wrestling put up nice results this weekend.

The Blue Streaks placed fourth at the Pete Willson Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Wheaton College, about 45 minutes west of Chicago.

The men of Mark Hawald tallied five placers, including one champion, for the weekend.

Final Brackets

Leading the way was Patrick McGraw. The Chardon native captured the 157-pound crown after placing fifth a year before. On Friday, McGraw powered through the top of the bracket with two wins, hitting the century mark for his career. After hitting 100 career wins, McGraw didn't rest, as he tallied a 3-0 decision in the semifinal and a 7-4 decision in the final over Cornell College's Gabe Smith. The Saint Ignatius grad enjoyed a heck of a weekend.

Andrew Perelka snagged second place at 133, his fourth time placing fourth or better at the Pete Willson Invite. He opened with an 8-3 decision before roaring for three straight wins by pin (in 30 seconds, 28 seconds, and then 4:42). In doing so, Perelka now owns the single-season pin record (he previously owned the mark with 16) and ups his career record even further. Perelka lost a 7-2 decision in the title bout to Ty Bisek of Concordia-Moorhead College, ranked #6 in the most recent NWCA (National Wrestling Coaches Association) rankings.

Jesse Kanatzar earned sixth place at 197 for JCU. The junior opened with an 18-0 tech fall and a pin (5:30) before losing to the eventual champ, Demitreus Henry of SUNY-Cortland, ranked #11 by NWCA. Kanatzar eked out 3-2 and 4-0 decision wins before a medical forfeit in the fifth-place match.

Stefan Farian and Thomas Blackwell both tabbed eighth-place marks, at 184 and 285 pounds, respectively. Farian lost his opening match before battling back with four straight consolation wins, though he dropped his final bout, 5-1. Blackwell opened with a pin before being pinned himself in the second round. Following three straight wins, Blackwell lost a couple tough matches to end the tournament.

John Carroll will now take some time to regroup before facing off with Heidelberg on Wednesday, February 7.

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