ELMHURST, Ill. -  The Elmhurst wrestling team opened the 2018-19 season with a 30-22 dual meet victory over Wheaton College.

Elmhurst won six of the nine matches wrestled in the dual to come away with an eight-point victory.
 
Wheaton (0-1) jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead after returning national runner-up Carlos Fuentez pinned Antoine Bess in the third period. Elmhurst evened the score at 133 pounds when Zach McCullough made his Elmhurst debut and pinned Wheaton's Ethan Harsted in the second period (4:26).
 
Returning All-American Jimmy McAuliffe put the Bluejays in front 12-6 by making short work of Cameron Calabrese. McAuliffe pinned the Thunder wrestler in 1:52 to give the Elmhurst a six-point cushion in the dual. Christian Komitas made his collegiate debut at 149 pounds and scored an impressive 22-7 technical fall (7:00) over Andy Harrell. Komitas scored a pair of near fall points in the closing seconds of the final period to secure the five-point technical fall. Elmhurst extended its lead to 21-6 after Keone Derain scored a 9-1 major decision over Caele Manley at 157 pounds.
 
Wheaton cut into Elmhurst's lead at 165 pounds. Jonavan Huggins scored a late takedown and the pinned Howie Olson with just five seconds left on the clock to make the score 21-12 in favor of Elmhurst. The Bluejays pushed their lead up to a dozen at 174 pounds when Nevin Brittain held on for a 4-2 decision over Jacob Murrie.

Elmhurst elected to forfeit the 184 pound weight class and allowing Mark Miller to bump up to 197 pounds. The forfeit brought the Thunder to within six points at 24-18, but the move paid off immediately as Miller delivered a first-round pin of Max Gierke (2:02) to put the dual meet away for Elmhurst.
 
Wheaton's Darien Kaufman toppled Karim Fuentes 9-1 at 285 pounds in the final match of the dual.
 
Elmhurst wrestles at the Concordia University (Wis.) Open on Saturday, November 17.

ELMHURST 30, WHEATON 22
125 – Carlos Fuentez (WC) pinned Antoine Bess (So.) in 6:43
133 – Zach McCullough (EC) pinned Ethan Harsted (WC) in 4:26
141 – Jimmy McAuliffe (EC) pinned Cameron Calabrese (WC) in 1:52
149 – Christian Komitas (EC) def. Andy Harrell (WC) by technical fall 22-7 (7:00)
157 – Keone Derain (EC) def. Caele Manley (WC) by major decision 9-1
165 – Jonavan Huggins (WC) pinned Howie Olson in 6:55
174 – Nevin Brittain (EC) def. Jacob Murrie 4-2.
184 – Isaac Odell (WC) received forfeit
197 -  Mark Miller (EC) pinned Max Gierke (WC) in 2:02
285 – Darien Kaufman (WC) def. Karim Fuentes (EC) by major decision 9-1