Final Brackets

WHEATON, Ill. - Elmhurst wrestlers Danny Balderas and Mike Ryan both scored top-six finishes while competing at the Pete Wilson Invitational hosted by Wheaton College.

The Bluejays totaled 31 points as a team to place 20th out of 31 squads. Wisconsin-Parkside took home the team title with 117.5 points.

Balderas was the top finisher for the Bluejays, posting a 6-1 record and bringing home third place at 174 pounds. Balderas opened the tournament with a 7-3 victory over Mt. Union's Lambert McElrath and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-2 win over North Central's Andrew Bradley.

In the quarterfinals, Balderas was pinned by seventh-ranked Trevor Tyler of Olivet in 4:447. Balderas bounced back from the loss, by edging Chicago's Rylan Hankenson 8-7 in the consolation round. He followed with a 5-3 decision over Trine's Jason Alber and then knocked off UW-Oshkosh's Dan Schiferl 11-6 to reach the third place match. Balderas earned the third-place title when he earned an injury-default win over Tyler.

Ryan placed sixth at 165 pounds after posting a 5-3 record at the two-day tournament. Ryan opened the tournament by pinning Muskingum's Ronald Hepner in 4:20, before falling 10-3 to Indianapolis' Jeff Weiss in the second round.

In the consolation bracket, Ryan ripped off four straight wins. He toppled Lakeland's Miguel Luis 6-2 before blanking top-seeded James Myers of Olivet 2-0. Ryan earned a medical forfeit victory over Messiah's Ricardo Plummer before edging Mt. Union's John Piechuta 6-5 to reach the semifinals of the consolation round. An injury forced Ryan to forfeit his next two matches, settling for sixth-place.

Elmhurst will attempt to defend its CCIW Championship crown when the Bluejays compete at the 2012 CCIW Championship on February 9.