University Heights, Ohio – The Thunder wrestling team is competing at the NCAA Division III Regional #5 this weekend, hosted by John Carroll University.  Wheaton placed 14^th in the 17-team field this weekend as freshman Caleb Cox and sophomore Zeke Harris each finished eighth in their respective weight classes. 

Cox opened his participation in the 157-pound weight class with a victory via fall at 157-pounds. Cox pinned Ohio Wesleyan's Christian Herandez at the 4:01 mark of their first-round matchup. In the quarterfinal UW-Whitewater's Luke Swan defeated Cox in a 13-5 major decision. Cox, the No. 7 seed, then won a 4-2 decision against fifth-seeded Daniel Gunlogson of UChicago in the consolation bracket. Gunlogson defeated Cox last month at Elmhurst's Al Hanke Invitational.

When wrestling resumed on Saturday, Millikin's Michael Hutchison defeated Cox in a 6-4 decision. Hutchison had a narrow 4-3 lead late in the second period when he recorded a reversal to go up 6-3 and held on for the lead. In the seventh-place match at 157-pounds, Cox lost to Albion's Jayden Lewis via a fall at 4:43.

Harris, the No. 6 seed, began his day in the 197-pound bracket with a victory via fall at the 5:55 mark of his match against Alma's Paul Wilson. North Central's AJ Frescura won a narrow 5-3 decision against Harris in the quarterfinals. Frescura entered the third period with a 1-0 advantage and the final 1:10 of the match saw a flurry of activity as the NCC freshman got the two-point win. Harris opened up his competition in the consolation bracket with a victory against Trine's Julante Hinton by fall 41 seconds into the second period (3:41).

Harris resumed action on Saturday morning with a matchup against No. 2 seed Mateo Casillas of Millikin. Casillas won a 5-0 decision in their matchup. Harris withdrew from the tournament prior to the seventh-place match as he finished eighth at 197-pounds. 

Jacob Kraker competed in the 184-pound bracket. Wabash's Zachary Huckaby defeated Kraker in an 8-3 decision in the first round. Kraker's first match in the consolation bracket was a 14-1 major decision over Olivet's Richard Davis. John Carroll's Wills Bronson recorded a fall against Kraker 40-seconds into their match to end Kraker's day at the tournament.