MILWUAKEE, Wis. – The Elmhurst University wrestling team totaled 31 points to place 12th at the Milwaukee School of Engineering Invitational.
 
Roberto Pena had a strong performance for the Bluejays, turning in a 4-2 record while reaching the fifth-place match at 285 pounds.
 
After dropping his first match of the day, Pena bounced back to win four straight in the consolation bracket. Pena pinned teammate Jorge Manjarrez (4:51) and then edged UW-Whitewater's Shelby Jones 3-2. He scored a forfeit win over Chicago's Cole Fibranz and then pinned UW-Platteville's Colton Grindle in 4:21. Pena fell to UW-Eau Claire's Mason Hawkins in the consolation semifinals sending him to the fifth-place match. The fifth-place match was not contested due to individual match limits.
 
Norbert Crecan reached the quarterfinals of 184 pounds and finished the day with a 2-2 record. He toppled Albion's Owen McDaniel 15-13 before falling to Cornell's Colin Honderd in the quarterfinals. Crecan tipped Central's Austin Roos 3-2 before falling to UW-Eau Claire's Niall Schoenfelder 15-5.
 
Ronnie Massari finished with a 2-2 mark at 165 pounds and reached the quarterfinals. He opened with a 13-3 major decision over Chicago's Wyatt Haynes and then toppled UW-Whitewater's Caleb Smith 4-0.
 
Ben Leach added a pair of wins at 141 pounds, pinning Aurora's Julian Alvarez and MSOE's Connor Nagela.
 
Jimmy McAuliffe won his first two matches at 141 pounds, pinning UW-Whitewater's Josiah Lynden and MSOE's Connor Nagela before an injury sidelined McAuliffe for the tournament.

Elmhurst competes at the Art Kraft Invite on Saturday, December 11.