Wrestling | June 2

GENEVA, Ohio—Five members of the Northern Illinois University wrestling program competed at the U23 Greco-Roman and Freestyle Trials at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio over the past weekend (May 30-June 1).
 
Devon Dawson (130 kg) led the competitors with a third-place finish while Markel Baker (60 kg) took home fourth place. Landen Johnson (72 kg) finished in fifth while Sean Carroll (130 kg) and Tommy Bennett (82 kg) each claimed eighth place finishes.
 
Dawson opened his time with a win over Jackson Mankowski (Wisconsin) (TF 8-0, 4:52) before dropping his only bout of the weekend to Willie Cox (Alabama). Dawson defeated Andrew Blackburn-Forst (Bison Wrestling Club) to capture the third-place finish.
 
Baker defeated Joshua Henry (Level Up Wrestling Center) in his first bout as he would drop a 6-4 decision to Ray Ray Harris (Tiger Wrestling Club). Baker claimed his next three wins over before falling in the third-place match to Troy Guerra (WNY RTC), in a 3-1 decision.
 
Johnson dropped a 13-4 decision to Noah Creque (Yellowjacket Wrestling Club) before posting back-to-back wins over Brayden Roberts (LIURTC) and Joshua Palacio (Air Force RTC). In the fifth-place match, Johnson defeated David Burchett (Basement Brawlers Wrestling Club).
 
Bennett and Carroll each opened their time at the SPIRE Institute with back-to-back wins.
 
In freestyle competition, Dawson saw a notable victory as he defeated Ashton Davis in the third round. Davis was an NCAA qualifier and Ivy League Champion in freestyle.

Bennett posted victories over Marcus Murabito (Tar Heel Wrestling Club) and Oscar Aranda (West Point Wrestling Club) while Carroll claimed victories over James Campbell (Michigan Wrestling Club) and Mankowski.
 
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