SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Elmhurst College wrestling team recorded a 1-2 record while competing among the nation's best teams at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals.

The Bluejays opened the day with a 27-15 win over Johnson & Wales University to advance to the quarterfinals. The Bluejays were bounced into the consolation bracket with a 26-13 loss to third-ranked Ithaca College and were eliminated from the duals with a 26-18 loss to seventh-ranked St. John's University (Minn.).

ELMHURST 27, JOHNSON & WALES 15 - Elmhurst, ranked ninth in the latest NWCA poll, fell behind 15-6 after the first five matches, but the Bluejays won the final five contests to score the 12-point victory.

After forfeiting the match at 125 pounds, Elmhurst got on the scoreboard at 133 pounds when Dalton Bullard defeated John Donaleski 4-0. Johnson & Wales went up 12-3 after Thomas Webster pinned Elmhurst's Jake Denhof in 4:54 at 141 pounds.

Ryan Earley helped the Bluejays slice the lead down to 12-6 with a 13-7 victory over Richard Pilkington at 149 pounds. Johnson & Wales' Matthew Ross scored his team's final points at 157 pounds, by toppling Elmhurst's Mike Grice 4-2 at 157 pounds.

Yousef Al-Ghoul gave the Bluejays momentum at 165 pounds after he pinned Michael Frick in the second round (4:42). Danny Balderas followed with a 9-4 win over Frank Marotti at 174 pounds to tie the dual at 15-15.

Joe Rau made short work of JWU's Connor Nelson at 184 pounds, pinning him in 1:58. Danny Vargas followed with an 11-6 victory over Blake McNulty at 197 pounds to put the dual out of reach. The Bluejays' Brian Brooks closed out the dual with a 3-2 victory over Humphrey Swift at 285 pounds.

ITHACA 26, ELMHURST 13 - Elmhurst suffered its firs dual loss of the season in a 26-13 loss to third-ranked Ithaca. The Bombers won six of the nine matches wrestled. Elmhurst's only wins came at 149 pounds, 184 pounds, and 197 pounds. Earley put the Bluejays on the scoreboard with an 8-0 major decision over Kevin Collins at 149 pounds. Rau pinned Kyle McKeighan in 3:48 at 184 pounds and Vargas scored a 7-2 decision over Thomas Heckman at 197 pounds.

ST. JOHN'S 26, ELMHURST 18 - The Bluejays won four of the nine matches wrestled in the dual, but came up short in an eight-point loss to the seventh-ranked Tommies. Dehoff put Elmhurst on the scoreboard by pinning Scott Padmos in 5:00 at 141 pounds. Earley edged Ryan Arne 4-3. Rau upended sixth-ranked Mitchell Hagen 4-1 at 184 pounds. Brooks closed out the dual by pinning John Scepaniak in 2:46.

Rau and Earley both finished the day a perfect 3-0 in their matches.

ELMHURST 27, JOHNSON & WALES 12
125 - Joe Pronk (JWU) received forfeit
133 - Dalton Bullard (EC) def. John Donaleski 4-0
141 - Thomas Webster (JWU) pinned Jake Denhof in 4:54
149 - Ryan Earley (EC) def. Richard Pilkington 13-7
156 - Matthew Ross (JWU) def. Mike Grice 4-2
165 - Yousef Al-Ghoul (EC) pinned Michael Frick in 4:42
174 - Danny Balderas (EC) def. Frank Marotti 9-4
184 - Joe Rau (EC) pinned Connor Nelson in 1:58
197 - Danny Vargas (EC) def. Blake McNulty 11-6
285 - Brian Brooks (EC) def. Humphrey Swift 3-2

ITHACA 26, ELMHURST 13
125 - Dominick Giacolone (IC) received forfeit
133 - Alex Gomez (IC) def. Dalton Bullard 7-5 (OT)
141 - Seth Ecker (IC) def. Jake Denhof 17-4 Major
149 - Ryan Earley (EC) def. Kevin Collins 8-0 Major
157 - Derek Brenon (IC) def. Tom Jung 5-4
165 - Nicholas Sanko (IC) def. Mike Ryan 6-0
174 - Jules Doliscar (IC) def. Danny Balderas 13-3 Major
184 - Joe Rau (EC) pinned Kyle McKeighan in 3:48
197 - Danny Vargas (EC) def. Thomas Heckman 7-2
285 - Matthew Mahon (IC) def. Brian Brooks 2-1 (OT)

ST. JOHN'S 26, ELMHURST 18
125 - Brian Waldron (SJU) received forfeit
133 - Chad Henle (SJU) def. Dalton Bullard 5-3
141 - Jake Denhof (EC) pinned Scott Padrnos in 5:00
149 - Ryan Earley (EC) def. Ryan Arne 4-3
157 - Chris Stevermer (SJU) def. Mike Grice 9-1 Major
165 - Nicholas Schuler (SJU) pinned. Yousef Al-Ghoul in 2:05
174 - Matt Pfarr (SJU) def. Danny Balderas 3-1
184 - Joe Rau (EC) def. Mitchell Hagen 4-1
197 - Dustin Baxter (SJU) def. Jon Nelson 8-0 Major
285 - Brian Brooks (EC) pinned John Scepaniak in 2:46.