Ambrocio, Kenealy place at Pete Wilson Invitational

WHEATON, Ill. – Sean Ambrocio and Casey Kenealy led Concordia University Wisconsin at the two-day Pete Wilson Invitational, hosted by Wheaton College, on Friday and Saturday. Ambrocio placed fourth in the 125-pound bracket, while Kenealy took seventh in the 165-pound division.

It is the second time this season Ambrocio has placed at a tournament, while it is the fourth time for Kenealy. A year ago, Ambrocio won the 125-pound division.

Ambrocio (junior, San Antonio, Texas) won three bouts during the opening day of the tournament, including two by fall. He began the tournament with a commanding 18-3 technical fall win over Matt Damp (Lakeland College). The quick-striking grappler followed with a pin against John Cobos (John Carroll University) in 57 seconds before sticking Nick Santos (North Central College) in four minutes and seven seconds.

Ambrocio – ranked second in the bracket – began the second day in the semifinals and fell by decision, 6-4, to the third-ranked wrestler in the division, Jesse Guntler (Baldwin Wallace University). After moving to the consolation portion of the 125-pound bracket, he picked up an 8-3 decision win over Ronzel Darling (UW-Parkside) to advance to the third-place match. He unfortunately lost in a close 3-1 decision to Robert Bidlingmaler (Olivet College).

Kenealy (junior, Hartford, Wis.) won his opening bout of the Invitational by decision, 8-7, against Colt Lovejoy (Ohio Northern University), who was ranked fourth in the bracket. He then dropped an 8-4 decision to Peter Kootstra (MSOE).

After moving to the consolation portion of the 165-pound bracket he defeated Logan Hermsen (UW-Stevens Point) by decision, 10-4. He then won by decision, 14-8, over Ezekial Zimmer (Elizabethtown College) and by decision, 6-2, over Mitchell Fucile (Lakeland College). Kenealy then dropped a 9-2 decision to Joe Schindel (University of Mount Union). In the seventh place match he stuck Lovejoy in two minutes and 10 seconds for seventh place.

Junior Jake Reuteler (New Berlin, Wis.) earned two victories in the 197-pound division. He defeated third third-ranked wrestler in the bracket Mitchell Steed (Wheaton College) by decision, 13-8. Reuteler also won by decision, 11-8, against Tyler Keating (Baldwin Wallace University).

Senior Seth Kilkelly (Barneveld, Wis.) picked up a victory by fall, 1:09, in the 285-pound bracket over Joe Chirbas (Knox College). Sophomore Pierce Holtfreter (Las Vegas, Nev.) earned a 7-1 decision win over Kenny Faulkner (Baldwin Wallace University) in the 157-pound division.

CUW returns to the mat on Friday for its final home competition of the season, a dual against Maranatha Baptist Bible College inside the R. John Buuck Field House.