Tuesday, January 28, 2025

2025 Pete Willson Invitational - 197 lbs - (Fri Jan 31-Sat Feb 1)

 



Now here is a loaded bracket.  Potentially five ranked wrestlers, one All American, with two other NCAA DIII qualifiers.  5 returning Pete Willson Invitational place-winners, including last year's champion & runner up, plus all four R12'ers.  


#3
Ben Kawczynski 
UW-La Crosse

8th in the D3 nation last season, if Ben Kawczynski participates this weekend, he is likely to be the *1 seed.  Has majored Treyton Steffen twice by scores of 12-2 & 12-4.  Owns a 3:21 fall over Kasey Gish & an 8-0 major over Jackson Punzel.  Has defeated Jordan Lewis 21-5 technical fall, 15-0 technical fall & via fall in 14 seconds.  Also owns a 16-3 major over Bryce McCloskey. 

#10
Lorenzo Pellot
Roanoke

The Maroon finished one match shy of being an D3 All American last year.  Owns both a 7-6 decision over Treyton Steffen and a 17-2 tech over Cole Matulenko. 

#12
Gavin Layman
Ohio Northern 

A D3 qualifier last season, Gavin Layman has proven himself against the competition he'll see here in Wheaton, Illinois.  Owns both a 5-0 & 3-0 victory over Kasey Gish, and a 7-2 decision over Aiden Gassel.   Has defeated both Treyton Steffen & Bryce McCloskey by scores of 2-1, needing a tiebreaker against McCloskey. 

#13
Treyten Steffen
Cornell (IA)

4th at last year's Pete Willson Invitational, Treyten Steffen looks to improve upon his finish as he looks to earn medal #2 this weekend.  Against the competition he owns a 4-2 decision over Bryce McCloskey, a 4-2 decision over Kasey Gish & a 5-3 decision over Cole Matulenko.  He also owns a 2:16 fall over Aiden Gassel & both a 7:00 fall as well as a 8-3 decision over Jacob Badger. 

#14
Bryce McCloskey
 Mount Union 

In the fight for a top 8 finish this weekend will be Bryce McCloskey.  The Purple Raider has defeated Jesse Kanatzar three times by scores of 6-4, 4-0 & 8-4.  He also owns a 4:02 fall over Aiden Gassel. 

U.R. 
Kasey Gish
UW-La Crosse

Kasey Gish demonstrated that he was one of the best backups in all of D3 wrestling last year when he won the Pete Willson Invitational. He's very capable of doing the same thing again this year.  Owns both a 19-13 as well as a 9-7 decision over Treyten Steffen.  Owns a 2:13 fall over Jacob Badger, a 17-2 tech over Jackson Punzel & a 12-8 decision over Cole Matulenko. 

U.R.
Jacob Badger
 Augustana (ILL) 

The Viking made the finals of the Pete Willson Invitational last season & will look to have such a finish again this weekend.  Against the field, he's defeated Jordan Lewis by scores of 10-0 & 15-0.  Also owns a 9-0 major over Danny Lingen & a 15-7 major over Cole Matulenko. 

U.R.
Jackson Punzel 
Wheaton 

The Thunder kept a medal at 197 home last season when Jackson Punzel took a 5th place finish last year. Looks to do so again.  Owns an 18-3 technical fall over Kasey Gish. 

U.R.
Jordan Lewis
UW-Whitewater

The Warhawk earned a 7th place finish at last year's Pete Willson Invitational & will look to become a two time place-winner this weekend. 


U.R. 
Cole Matulenko
UW-Eau Claire

A match away from a medal at last year's Pete Willson Invitational, Cole Matulenko  will look to finish within the top 8 this weekend.  Owns a 4-1 decision over Jordan Lewis. 

U.R.
Aiden Gassel
Case Western Reserve

Gassel was actually one match shy of placing last year, competing at 184 lbs.  This year he'll look to earn a medal.  Owns a 4:56 fall over Jesse Kanatzar. 

U.R. 
Jesse Kanatzar 
John Carroll 


Another wrestler one match from placing at last year's Pete Willson Invitational, Jesse Kanatzar owns an 11-8 decision over Aiden Gassel. 

U.R.
Danny Lingen
Chicago

Along with Matulenko, Gassel and Kanatzar, Danny Lingen makes the fourth wrestler in the 197 lbs weight class that ended last season one match shy of a top 8 finish at the Pete Willson Invitational.  Owns both a 4-0 decision over Jordan Lewis & a 9-4 decision over Treyten Steffen. 




























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