PHOENIX, Ariz. - The top-ranked Newberry College wrestling squad opened the 2011 Grand Canyon Duals with a 25-18 win over 18th-ranked Colorado Mesa University at the GCU Arena on Saturday morning.

Connor McDonald (Rehoboth, Del.) started the dual off on the right foot for the Wolves, scoring a 16-1 technical fall over Parke Overmiller at 125 lbs. to put Newberry up 5-0. The Wolves trailed in a dual for just the second time this season, after CMU's Tyler Nelson pinned 133-pounder Steve McLeod (Gilbert, S.C.) at the 1:51 mark to give the Mavericks a 6-5 advantage.

Two nationally ranked Wolves put Newberry back in the lead. No. 2 BJ Young (Jackson, N.J.) scored a 16-0 technical fall over James Martinez at 141 lbs., followed by a 9-1 major decision from No. 5 Deral Brown (Elgin, S.C.) over Trevor Donarski at 149 lbs., putting Newberry up 14-6.

The Mavericks made their way back into the match at 157 lbs., when Jon Gappmeier pinned Taylor Knapp (Lawrenceville, Ga.) with less than a minute left in the match to make it a 14-12 match.

Blake Ridenour (Maryville, Tenn.) pulled off an upset at 165 lbs., winning an 8-2 decision over No. 4 Dylan Granard to make it a 17-12 Newberry lead. Colorado Mesa was not done battling though, as the Mavs pulled out an upset of their own, as Zak Slotten eked out a 5-4 decision over No. 5 Travis Sheehy (Suwanee, Ga.) at 174 lbs., to narrow the deficit back down to 17-15.

No. 6 Mitch Brown (Omaha, Neb.) took care of business at 184 lbs., defeating Nick Petersen 6-1 to put the Wolves up 20-15. The Mavs battled back within to one match at 197 lbs., as Jordan Passehl scored a last minute takedown and near-fall on Karl Reed (Mount Laurel, N.J.) to take a 10-6 decision, narrowing the deficit to 20-18 entering the final match.

No. 4 Jake Elkins (Trussville, Ala.) had an outstanding second period on the way to a 17-2 technical fall over Paco Retana at heavyweight, giving the Wolves a 25-18 victory.

Newberry has two more tough battles on its hands today, as the Wolves take on the top-ranked club team in the nation - California Baptist - at 1 p.m. Arizona time (3 p.m. Eastern), followed by a match with the host and No. 5 ranked Grand Canyon. Video will be available at http://www.b2livetv.com/partner_members.asp?id=78.