Grantham, Pa. – The Wheaton wrestling team opened its 2024-25 season on Saturday at the 2024 Messiah University Invitational. The Thunder finished ninth in the nine-team field today.

The host Messiah University Falcons finished first with 162.5 points, followed by Washington & Lee in second place with 161 points, Ursinus scored 121 points in third place, followed by Elizabethtown's 115 points in fourth place and McDaniel rounded out the top-five with 110 points in fifth place. Brockport scored 86.5 points in sixth place, Liberty University was seventh with 66.5 points, Johns Hopkins scored 58.5 points in eighth place and Wheaton rounded out the field with 35.5 points in ninth place.

Taggert Kazmierczak picked up two wins for the Thunder in the 165-pound weight class. Kazmierczak opened action with a 9-4 decision over Elizabethtown's Matteo Pinnero in the opening round. Kazmierczak defeated Liberty's Jordan Scott in a 17-1 technical fall in the second round. Messiah's Keegan Demarest defeated Kazmierczak via a fall at the 2:54 mark of their third round match.

Cale Coppess opened his participation in the 141-pound weight class with a 15-0 technical fall over Elizabethtown's Pierce Frailey. In the second round, Messiah's Shaun Quirk defeated Coppess in a 14-1 major decision on his way to the championship match.

Aidan Laird won his first-round match in the 149-pound class as he won a 14-0 major decision against Brockport's Christophe Stalzer in the first round. Washington & Lee's Evan Lindner defeated Laird in a 21-5 technical fall in their second round match.

Cael Palmer won his first-round match in the 174-pound weight class with a 13-6 decision over Brockport's Khol Kalfass. Messiah's Jared Butler won a 12-6 decision against Palmer in the second round.

Sean King won a 7-5 decision in his opening match of the 184-pound weight class against Tucker Bellanca of Washington & Lee. King lost an 8-0 major decision against Messiah's Ryder Staton in the following match.

Wheaton's next competition is a dual match at CCIW rival Elmhurst University. The Thunder will face the Bluejays at 7:00 p.m.