CHICAGO – The University of Chicago wrestling team earned four dominating individual victories, but Elmhurst College rallied late to tie the match at the end and won on a tiebreaker at 22-22 on Saturday afternoon.

The Maroons dropped to 4-3 on the season and the Bluejays moved to 6-2.

Devan Richter got UChicago off to a great start at 125 pounds. In his second match of the season, Richter pinned his opponent in the first period to give the home side a 6-0 lead. Elmhurst took the next two matches to go up 7-6. Then at 149 pounds, freshman Kahlan Lee-Lermer jumped all over his competition and secured a first-period pin that was only two seconds different than Richter's time.

A pair of decision victories by the Bluejays gave the visitors a narrow 13-12 lead. Once again, the Maroons responded. Junior Nicholas DiNapoli and sophomore Jason Lynch ran away with their matches at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively. Both UChicago wrestlers secured identical 16-0 technical falls. Lynch picked up his 10th technical fall of the season, which ranks him in the top five in NCAA Division III in that category.

UChicago held a 22-13 edge in team points with two matches remaining. However, Elmhurst secured a technical fall and a major decision to tie things up at 22-all. By virtue of winning six of the 10 matches, the Bluejays were awarded the tiebreaker win.

"We had some great performances and almost won a 10-match dual on four wins," Head Coach Leo Kocher said. "Our guys who went for bonus points did a great job. Elmhurst is a tough program and they earned the wins they needed at the end."

Elmhurst 22, UChicago 22 (Elmhurst wins on tiebreak)
125 – Devan Richter (UC) def. Anthony Munoz (ELM), Fall (2:30)
133 – Jared Braun (ELM) def. Elliot Henderson (UC), 6-0 decision
141 – Ronnie Hauser (ELM) def. Grant Morrison (UC), 15-5 major decision
149 – Kahlan Lee-Lermer (UC) def. Grant Smiley (ELM), Fall (2:28)
157 – Keone Derain (ELM) def. Steve Bonsall (UC), 4-1 decision
165 – Tim Noverini (ELM) def. Michael Sepke (UC), 10-3 decision
174 – Nicholas DiNapoli (UC) def. Shawn Swiderek (ELM), 16-0 technical fall (5:00)
184 – Jason Lynch (UC) def. Jerry Harris (ELM), 16-0 technical fall (4:34)
197 – Mark Miller (ELM) def. Joseph Scheidt (UC), 20-5 technical fall (6:12)
285 – Luis Montoya (ELM) def. Patrick Mulkerin (UC), 12-2 major decision

NEXT MEET:

• Friday-Saturday, Jan. 27-28 – UChicago at Wheaton College Pete Willson Invitational