A trio of unattached University of Wisconsin wrestlers competed in Day 1 of the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships Sunday in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
Freshman Joshua Otto (165 pounds) led the group with a 1-2 record.
Otto fell to Iowa’s Alex Marinelli by virtue of a first-period pin in the Round of 32.
In his first consolation match, Otto bested Tracy Hubbard of Central Michigan 4-3. Otto was trailing 3-2 late in the third period, but scored a takedown in the waning moments of the final stanza to earn the victory.
A loss to Emmett Lacastri (Franklin & Marshall) in the following round eliminated Otto from the tournament.
Junior Ethan Rotondo (125) and freshman Nicholas Termini (141) also competed unattached. Both went 0-2 on the day and were eliminated.
Rotondo dropped a close 6-4 decision to Antonio Lorenzo (Cal Poly) in his first bout of the day, relegating him to the consolation side of the bracket.
There, he ran into UW starter Eric Barnett. Barnett won by decision, 8-5.
Termini dropped both his matches by major decision.
He fell to Wilfredo Gil of Franklin & Marshall 11-1 in the Round of 64.
Termini lost to Alec McKenna (Northwestern) 10-1 in his lone consolation bout.
