ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst University wrestling team returned to action by placing sixth at the 39th Annual Al Hanke Invitational at R.A. Faganel Hall.
 
Elmhurst totaled 79 points, taking sixth after finishing just six points behind Wheaton College for a top-five finish. The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point won the team title with 122 points.
 
Justin Hames and Joe Caringella both took home second place finishes in their respective weight classes to pace the Bluejays on the day. After starting with a bye at 133 pounds, Hames scored a 17-9 major decision over North Central's John Asiuras. He followed with a 15-8 semifinal victory over Concordia's Gabe Rodriguez to reach the championship match. Hames finished the day with a 2-1 record and placed second overall after dropping the title match to Wheaton's Ethan Harsted 16-1.
 
Caringella finished second at 165 pounds after recording a 3-1 mark on the day. Caringella opened with a 16-0 technical fall over Henry Ford's Justin Labon. He edged Chicago's Charles Sabino 5-2 in the quarterfinals and then upended Harper's Aaron Taylor 6-2 in the semifinals to reach the title match at 165. Caringella took home second place after falling 7-3 to Lincoln's Andrew Sims in the title match.
 
Five other Bluejays recorded top-eight finishes on the day.
 
Jaden Morga placed fourth at 157 pounds with a 2-2 record. Morga defeated Henry Ford's Jason Rocz 6-3 and then scored a 5-4 victory over North Central's Jamaal Salary in the quarterfinals. Morga fell to UW-Stevens Point's Luke Smiley in the semifinals and settled for fourth after dropping the third-place match to Lincoln's Anthony Sartori 10-4.
 
Zach Kolb added a fifth-place finish at 149 pounds after posting a 4-1 record on the day. Kolb toppled Lincoln's Easton Norris 6-5 to start the day before falling 6-0 in the quarterfinals to Henry Ford's Elijah Kidder. Kolb closed the day with three straight wins in the consolation round, defeating Bryce Straus of UW-Stevens Point 6-4, MSOE's Gianni Rago 9-8 and then toppling Lincoln's Ke'Shawn Hess 9-3 in the fifth-place match.
 
Jeff Nugent added a fifth-place finish at 157 pounds with a 5-1 record. Nugent opened with back-to-back wins by fall. He pinned North Central's Bransen Burd in 1:03 and then toppled Wheaton's Ben Black in 1:21. Nugent fell 8-6 to Lincoln's Sartori in the quarterfinals, but rebounded to win three straight matches by fall. Nugent pinned Concordia's Adler Henn in 1:06 and then followed with a win by fall over North Central's Tanner Willett in 1:22. Nugent finished the day with five wins, all coming by fall.
 
Ronnie Massari finished 4-2 on the day to place seventh at 165 pounds. After a win by forfeit, Massari fell 8-2 to UW-Stevens Point's Brandon Peckham in the championship bracket. He rebounded to post a 3-1 record in the consolation round to place seventh. He toppled Harper's Sam Dornbos 9-4 and then earned a forfeit win to reach the consolation semifinals. Massari fell 12-7 to Harper's Brandon Parks and took home seventh place after a medical forfeit.
 
Roberto Pena added a fifth-place finish at 285 pounds for Elmhurst. Pena scored a fall over Joliet's Daniel Landando in the opening round and then fell to Harper's Jordan Williams in the quarterfinals. In the consolation round, Pena pinned North Central's Jake Moore in 45 seconds and then scored a 15-3 major decision over MSOE's Noah Nieberle in the consolation semifinal. He secured fifth-place by edged North Central's Isaac Banker 8-7.
 
Elmhurst will wrestle at North Central College on Thursday, January 20th in a CCIW Dual.