DECATUR, IL. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College wrestling team put forth an encouraging effort on Saturday afternoon at the Millikin Open. After a collective slow start to the day, three Panthers placed in the event, Nolan McKelvy, Matthew Velasco, and Gavyn Uribes took home top-eight finishes. 
 
The Millikin Open completed a busy week for the Panthers who competed last Saturday at Glenville State and at McKendree on Wednesday night. McKelvy led Wesleyan on this Saturday at 174 pounds with a fourth-place finish. McKelvy won his first four matches, three by pin to get into the quarterfinals.
 
Velasco won his opening match, but fell in the second round. A sudden victory in the in the consolation first round sparked the Panthers' 141 pounder as he collected four wins in a row to get into the placing round. Unfortunately, Velasco reached his maximum number of matches for the day and had to forfeit the rest of the bracket.  
 
At heavyweight Uribes started the day 1-1 with a pin and was pinned in the second round. He then recorded two more pins and a forfeit to get to the consolation semifinals. Gabe Craig form Wabash pinned Uribes in the semifinals, but Uribes came back to win the seventh-place match by pinning Quinn Wilcoxen from Cornell in 45 seconds. 
 
Maddox Vernon finished the day 2-2 with a pair of pins at 184 pounds. Drayden McKerrow fell a round shy of the placing round at 184 pounds. McKerrow was 3-2 on the day. At 157 pounds Cade Johnson finished the day 2-2 with a pin and technical fall. 
 
The Panthers will now have a week to prepare for the King Open in Bristol, Tennessee. Competition will begin at 8AM CT. 
 
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