Al Hanke Results

ELMHURST, Ill. - Resting, several of its regular starters, the Elmhurst College wrestling team placed second at the 30th Annual Al Hanke Invitational at R.A. Faganel Hall.

The Bluejays totaled 116.5 points to place second. The University of Chicago won the team title with 129.5 points while Milwaukee School of Engineering took third (100.5 points).

A pair of Bluejays captured individual titles at the tournament. Danny Balderas scored an individual title at 174 pounds with a perfect 3-0 record. Balderas upended Chicago's Ryley Hankenson 5-2 in the championship match. Jon Nelson finished with a 3-0 mark and the crown at 197 pounds. Nelson toppled Concordia's Shane Brandi 5-2 in the championship match.

Three Bluejays brought home second-place finishes. Jake Denhof added a second-place finish at 141 pounds with a 3-1 record. Denhof won three straight matches before falling to Concordia's Greg Sanders 12-10 in the championship match. Tom Jung added a second-place finish at 157 pounds. Jung  scored win in his first two contests before falling to Chicago's James Layton 4-2 in the title match. Brian Brooks placed second at 285 pounds with a 2-1 record. Brooks was pinned by Harper's Curtis Blaydes in the championship match.

Mike Ryan finished third at 165 pounds. After losing his opening match, Ryan won four straight, toppling MSOE's Pete Kootstra 15-0 in the third-place match.

Mike Grice finished with a 2-2 record and placed fourth at 157 pounds.

Matt Quigley (fifth-place at 133 pounds), Maxx Lozano (sixth at 141 pounds), and Stephen Kunca (sixth at 157 pounds) also scored top-six finishes for the Bluejays.

Elmhurst hosts North Central College in a CCIW dual on Wednesday (January 18).