CEDAR FALLS, IOWA - Wrestling finishes in 15th place at the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Dual Meet this weekend. The two day event hosted four matches for the wolves, two on Friday, Jan. 5 and Saturday Jan. 6.

Facing #6 ranked St. Cloud State as their first match on Friday, the wolves fell 28-9. The team did not see their first win until 174 Ib Andrew Reed overtook his opposition via decision, 7-2. 184 Ib Jacoby Benjamin earned the wolves three points as well, winning his match via decision, 3-1. The last win came from 285 Ib standout Devon Rice, earning the last three points via a 5-1 decision. Scores can often be misleading when you only look at the numbers. 149 Ib Devan Moore had a close bout with the #8 ranked opposition, dropping the match by a measly two points. Freshman 133 Ib Benjamin Guilliam kicked it into high gear in the third period, getting two back to back drops on his opponent and gaining crucial ride time in the two minute span.

The next match came to #5 Lake Erie where the wolves fell 26-15. 125 Ib Zach Shupp started the wolves off with three points in a dominant 7-3 decision. Moore found his way back in the win collum in the 149, earning the wolves three points via a 5-3 decision against his opponent. 197 Ib John Parker cleared his match-up with a 10-5 decision earning the wolves three points. Lake Erie got cold feet in the 285 Ib class, forfeiting the match to Rice, earning the wolves six points. Guiliam had yet another incredible showing, matching up against the #11 133Ib opposition where his match was lost 1-0.

#20T Tiffin was Newberry's next opponent in an incredibly unfortunate 18-19 loss. 149 Moore continued his success earning the wolves three points in a 12-9 decision over the dragons. The win column welcomed 165 Ib Asa Walton in dominant fashion where he cruised by his opponent with a 13-3 major decision earning the wolves four points. Benjamin took the win in the 185 again via a 4-1 decision moving the wolves up to 10 points on the dual. Parker also gained another win with a 5-0 decision after an incredible display of strength, clearing three minutes of ride time, eliminating any chances of his opponent counter-attacking, moving the wolves up to 13 points. The last match came down Rice in which he needed a fall/pin to even the score 19-19 which would have favored Newberry, awarding them the win. Communication became an issue, resulting in Rice being to good at his job. In a last ditch effort to give the wolves cushion to attack, Rice allowed himself to be taken down (or so he thought). A controversial call, the ref did not award Tiffin the take down. Unaware of this, Rice went in for the attack to pin the dragon, succeeding in the take down, the match was called at that moment, awarding Rice his fourth win via a 18-2 tech. fall, earning the wolves five points. 

The wolves faced an flurry of bad luck against the dragons. 157 Ib P.J. Wunderlich brought his match into over time 0-0 after multiple would be take downs, right before the periods ended. His match ended in a 1-2 score. An unstoppable force met an immovable object in the 174 Ib bout with Andrew Reed stalemating his opponent 2-2 with less the 30 seconds left. Unfortunately someone had to give and Reed lost his match-up 5-2.

Refusing to go home empty handed, the wolves kicked it into high gear, facing off against #20T Ashland. 125 Ib Shupp came out too strong against his opponent, resulting in a take down leading to an injury forfeit by the eagles, earning the wolves six points. 141 Ib Zach Harrington claimed his first victory of the tournament with a 9-5 decision moving the score to 9-3. Moore moved to 3-1 on the day breezing by his competition with an easy 17-2 tech. fall, moving the score up to 14-3. Benjamin also moved to 3-1 on the day with an outstanding 13-5 major decision moving the score to 18-15. Parker joined the 3-1 club after giving the wolves their first pin/fall of the day with a time of 6:01, bumping the score up six to 24-15. Rice put the icing on the cake going 4-0 on the tournament with a 8-2 decision, taking to Ashland with a final score of 27-15. 

"I'm proud of our effort as a unit. We showed that we are neck and neck with some of the nation's top teams this weekend. We still have so much work to do, but it is clear that we are headed in the right direction. I look forward to getting back to work on Monday as we head back into conference competition." said head coach Deral Brown.

The wolves are back in action this Wednesday where they continue their conference carolina play as they travel to Allen University.