FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Newberry jumped out to an early lead in all three of its matches Thursday, including twice against opponents ranked in the top 10, but the Wolves were unable to come away with a win at the NWCA National Duals on Thursday.
Although the Wolves went winless on the day, nationally-ranked wrestlers Trung Duong (125 pounds) and Jordan Simpson (133) added to their already impressive credentials. Simpson, ranked No. 8 nationally in the latest poll, went 3-0 on the day with a major decision over seventh-ranked Dakota Bauer of No. 3 Maryville. He also had a pair of decisions in Newberry’s other duals.
Duong entered the day ranked No. 7 in Division II in his weight class and recorded a major decision, a fall, and a win by forfeit.
The Wolves squared off against third-ranked Maryville to begin the day and shot out to an 8-0 lead after Duong and Simpson’s major decisions. Maryville trimmed the lead to 8-7 before Alex Rice netted five team points in the 157-pound bout with a tech fall. But Maryville responded with four wins in the last five matches to come from behind for a 24-17 win.
Newberry’s next opponent was No. 8 Findlay, a team that came into the day with the second-largest improvement in the national poll by jumping five spots and boasting five wrestlers ranked in their respective weight classes. Newberry got off to a hot start, accumulating nine points through the first two bouts, but Findlay stormed back to take a 28-12 victory.
The final opponent of the day was Indianapolis, which currently sits one spot outside the top 25. Newberry again seized the early lead before Indianapolis battled back with four consecutive wins to take a 15-9 lead. A decision by Huston Evans halved the lead before Cody Brundage delivered six team points with a fall, giving the Wolves a tenuous 18-15 advantage.
But Indianapolis retook the lead with a fall of their own in the 197-pound bout and earned six points on a forfeit in the final weight class for their final 27-18 margin.
The Wolves return to action on Thursday, Jan. 12 in the team’s first home competition of the season. Newberry hosts Ouachita Baptist in a dual beginning at 5:00 p.m.
