Falcons Compete in 29th Annual CUW Open

MEQUON, Wis. – The CUW wrestling team hosted the 29th annual CUW Open inside the R. John Buuck Fieldhouse on Saturday. This tournament showcases some of the best NCAA Division III men's wrestling talent from across the nation.

The Blue and White had a total of 16 wrestlers compete in the tournament.

Sophomore Devin Gore (Plymouth, Wis.) was the lone Falcon to compete in the 125-pound weight class. He was defeated by a 4-9 decision in round one of the championship bracket. He also fell prey to a 2-3 decision in the first round of the consolation bracket.

In the 133-pound weight class, the Blue and White had a pair of athletes competing. Senior Gabe Rodriguez (Las Vegas, Nev.) and junior Emilio Acosta (El Paso, Texas) competed in that weight class. Acosta fell in the first matchup of the championship bracket by a 1:33 fall, but was paired up with Rodriguez after he had won a 9-1 major decision in the first round, but fell to a 5-10 decision in the second. 

Rodriguez won the battle of the birds with an 11-3 major decision. He went on to win another matchup by a 5-0 decision but was defeated by a 6-8 decision in the fourth round of the consolation bracket.

Freshman Frank Budederi (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and senior Val Kochiu (Oak Creek, Wis.) represented the Falcons in the 141-pound weight class. Budederi saw all falls today with a defeat by fall in the first round, a fall victory in the first round of the consolation bracket, and a defeat by fall in the second round of the consolation bracket. Kochiu was victorious by a 15-0 tech fall in the first round but fell to a 4-6 decision in the second round of the championship bracket. 

In the consolation bracket, Kochiu pinned his opponent at 2:51 in round one but fell to a 3-8 decision in round two.

Sophomore Bryce Claypool (Morris, Ill.) and junior Adler Henn (Milwaukee, Wis.) took on the 165-pound division. Both were defeated in their first two matchups. Claypool fell victim to two pins while Henn was defeated by a fall and a 4-11 decision.

Senior Carson Cook (Las Vegas, Nev.) finished after a 7-5 decision victory in the first round of the championship bracket but was defeated in back-to-back matchups in the second round of the championship bracket and his first round of the consolation bracket.

Junior Jonathan Pullen (Joliet, Ill.) made it to the quarterfinal matchup of the championship bracket after a 1:23 injury victory. He was defeated in the quarterfinals by a 2-10 major decision and then again in the consolation bracket by a 4-9 decision.

In the 184-pound weight class, both freshman Dawson Galvan (Chula Vista, Calif.) and senior Alexandros Alexiades (Oswego, Ill.) were defeated in their first two matchups. 

Galvan was defeated by a 1-19 tech fall and a 0-10 major decision and Alexiades was defeated by a 1:48 fall and a 6:37 injury.

Freshman Ruben Vasquez (Westminster, Calif.) claimed a 2:05 fall victory in the first round of the championship bracket but was defeated in the second by a 0:42 fall. He then claimed another fall in his first round of the consolation bracket at 0:52 but was defeated by a 4-8 decision in the second round of consolations.

Freshman Seth Elliott (Long Beach, Calif.), senior Dalton Sell (Muscatine, Iowa), and junior Cam Mercer (Glenview, Ill.) all competed in the heavyweight division. Elliott saw a 1:39 fall in the first round of championships and a medical forfeit in the first round of the consolation bracket. Sell fell in the first round of the championship bracket, but was successful in the consolation bracket. He claimed a 17-1 tech fall and a 3:50 fall before being defeated by a 4-10 decision. Mercer claimed a fall victory in the first round of the championship bracket but was moved to the consolation bracket after a 2:18 fall. He won by a 2:20 fall in round one but was defeated by a 2:25 fall in the second round of the consolation bracket.

The Falcons take a break for Thanksgiving but will be back in action on December 3 at the MSOE Invite.