The Case Western Reserve University wrestling team began the 2026-27 season with a fourth-place finish at the Mount Union Invitational on Saturday at Peterson Field House in Alliance, Ohio.

The Spartans placed fourth out of 17 teams with 139.5 points and third out of eight Division III squads. Division II Gannon had the most points, scoring 242.0. CWRU had 11 members in the top eight of their weight classes, including four top four finishers.

Top Eight Placers

• Junior Chase Crutchley, second, 174 pounds
  • 4-1
  • Technical fall, two major decisions
  • Lost by sudden victory in final
• Senior Mathew Gummere, third, 184 pounds
  • 5-1
  • Two pins, technical fall, major decision
• Graduate student Ayden Lutes, third, 157 pounds
  • 5-1
  • Major decision
• Sophomore Alexander Goldman, fourth, 197 pounds
  • 3-2
  • Pin, two major decisions
• Sophomore Hunter Keane, fifth, 149 pounds
  • 4-2
  • Two pins, major decision
• Sophomore Cole Rose, fifth, 141 pounds
  • 4-2
  • Technical fall, major decision
• Junior Alexander Greene Barrios, sixth, 133 pounds
  • 4-2
  • Three pins, technical fall
• Sophomore Christopher Bezzeg, sixth, 165 pounds
  • 4-2
  • Two pins, technical fall
• First-year Michael Rusinko, seventh, 133 pounds
  • 4-2
  • Two pins, technical fall
  • Won by technical fall, 17-1 in 3:58, in seventh-place match
• Junior Robert Minden, seventh, 157 pounds
  • 4-1
  • Two technical falls, major decision
• First-year Liam McConaughy, eighth, 125 pounds
  • 3-3
  • Two pins, major decision

Notable Performances

• First-year Jake Rheaume went 3-2 with a pin at 165 pounds
• Senior Louka Babic had two wins, including one by fall at 174 pounds
• Senior Mike Valerino added two wins and a pin at 133 pounds
• Senior Dillon O'Keefe won three matches, including one by fall at 165 pounds
• Junior Simon Bishop added a fall and a decision win at 165 pounds

Spartan Notes

• First-year Christian May recorded his first collegiate win and technical fall
• First-year Damian Lang earned his first career win, a pin in 2:21
• First-year James Nalbone picked up his first career technical fall in his third bout
• First-year Cameron Nelson pinned an opponent in 3:28, the first win by fall of his career

Up Next

CWRU will host the Bob Del Rosa Open inside the Veale Center on Saturday, November 14. Action is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.