University of Illinois
Southeast Open
November 1, 2026 | Wrestling
RECAP
SALEM, Va. – The No. 21 ranked Illinois wrestling team completed the Southeast Open on Sunday (Nov. 1). No. 20 at 174 pounds Colin Kelly and Griff Powell (133 pounds) took silver in their brackets.
Kelly wrestled in the 174 open bracket that saw him dominate his first bout in a 21-5 (5:37) tech. fall over Pete Winterstein (NCST). He then earned a ranked win over No. 27 Brody Conley (WVU) with a 4-2 decision in the semifinals. He would fall to No. 18 Ryan Burton (VT) in the finals via decision, 7-2, to take second place.
Powell wrestled in the 133 freshman/sophomore bracket where he began with a 9-4 decision win over George Mason's Max Tancini, 9-4. The ensuing round he defeated Davidson's Mason Shirk, 7-2, before taking down Appalachian State's Ty Murray 5-2 in the semifinals. He was defeated by Sean Wilcox (NCST) in the finals via decision, 6-2, to take second place.
Jaxon Penovich was the other Illini place winner as he took fifth in the 174 freshman/sophomore bracket. The Illini grapplers are back in action on Saturday (Nov. 7) for a dual against Hofstra in Bethlehem, Pa. at 9 a.m. CT.
ILLINI RESULTS
Griff Powell (133)
Received Round 1 bye.
Round of 16: Griff Powell (ILL) dec. Max Tancini (GM), 9-4.
Quarterfinals: Griff Powell (ILL) dec. Mason Shirk (DAV), 7-2.
Semifinals: Griff Powell (ILL) dec. Ty Murray (APP), 5-2.
Finals: Sean Willcox (NCST) dec. Griff Powell (ILL), 6-2.
Powell placed second.
Caeleb Hutchinson (141)
Round 1: Caeleb Hutchinson (ILL) over Marcello Scaldaferri (GW), Fall (4:22).
Round of 16: Caeleb Hutchinson (ILL) tech. fall Brayden Owsley (UNATT), 15-0 (4:45).
Quarterfinals: Luke Satriano (WVU) major dec. Caeleb Hutchinson (ILL), 9-0.
Cons. Round 3: Caeleb Hutchinson (ILL) dec. Jasper Croom (UNATT), 5-1.
Cons. Semis: Drew Scherer (NCST) dec. Caeleb Hutchinson (ILL), 5-1.
Hutchinson eliminated.
Antonio Alvarado (149)
Round 1: Brayden Fahrbach (APP) dec. Antonio Alvarado (ILL), 6-0.
Cons. Round 2: Antonio Alvarado (ILL) dec. Drew Gorman (VT), 13-8.
Cons. Round 3: Antonio Alvarado (ILL) dec. Hayden Hughes (CHAT), 4-2.
Cons. Semis: Antonio Alvarado (ILL) dec. TJ Langley (WVU), 1-0.
Cons. Finals: Brayden Fahrbach (APP) dec. Antonio Alvarado (ILL), 4-1.
Alvarado eliminated.
Logan Swaw (165)
Round 1: Noah Nininger (VT) dec. Logan Swaw (ILL), 7-1.
Cons. Round 1: Logan Swaw (ILL) over Bryson Whitehead (UNATT), Fall (0:42).
Cons. Round 2: Logan Swaw (ILL) dec. Luke Sipes (WVU), 4-2.
Cons. Round 3: Max Hermes (OHIO) dec. Logan Swaw (ILL), 11-6.
Swaw eliminated.
#20 Colin Kelly (174)
Received Round 1 bye.
Quarterfinals: #20 Colin Kelly (ILL) tech. fall Pete Winterstein (NCST), 21-5 (5:37).
Semifinals: #20 Colin Kelly (ILL) dec. #27 Brody Conley (WVU), 4-2.
Finals: #18 Ryan Burton (VT) dec. #20 Colin Kelly (ILL), 7-2.
Kelly placed second.
Royce Lopez (174)
Received Round 1 bye.
Round of 16: Jason Kwaak (NCST) over Royce Lopez (ILL), Fall (0:48).
Cons. Round 2: Lucas Ricketts (NCST) dec. Royce Lopez (ILL), 5-3.
Lopez eliminated.
Jaxon Penovich (174)
Received Round 1 bye.
Round of 16: Jaxon Penovich (ILL) over Cameron Hunt (UMO), Fall (1:21).
Quarterfinals: Nadav Nafshi (UNC) dec. Jaxon Penovich (ILL), 8-2.
Cons. Round 3: Jaxon Penovich (ILL) over Ashton-Michael Ritz (UNATT), Fall (1:21).
Cons. Semis: Jaxon Penovich (ILL) tech. fall Lucas Ricketts (NCST), 17-0 (4:15).
Fifth-place match: Jaxon Penovich (ILL) over Adonis Bonar II (OHIO), Fall (4:06).
Penovich placed fifth.
