Cedar Falls, Iowa - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team advanced to the semifinals of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)/U.S. Marine Corps Multi-Divisional National Duals Friday at the University of Northern Iowa UNI-Dome. The duals are presented by A Better Way Athletics, Capitol Construction and Defense Soap.
 
The Eagles, the second-seed for the tournament, earned a pair of victories, including 49-3 over Albion College (Mich.) in their first dual and a 20-14 win over eighth-ranked The College of New Jersey in the quarterfinals.
 

UWL advances to face third-seeded Augsburg University (Minn.) in the tournament semifinals at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 11.
 
The Eagles captured its national duals crown in 2002 with a 31-9 victory over Wabash College (Ind.) in the championship match. UWL has finished at least fifth in nine of the last 13 NWCA Duals. Along with the team title in 2022, the Eagles were second in 2011 and third in 2012 and 2024. UWL placed fourth in 2023 and fifth in 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
 
In the victory over Albion (Mich.), Ino Garcia earned the win by fall (4:18) over Jeremy Sarter at 125-pounds to give UWL a 6-0 lead. Albion (Mich.) cut the lead to 6-3 with Cade Odrobina winning by decision (4-2) over UWL's Wyatt Magolski at 133.
 
The Eagles took the next eight matches. Sam Lorenz, ranked 15th in the NWCA, won by fall (1:20) over Koen Eberhard at 141-pounds followed by Joe Penchi's win by technical fall (15-0) over Xavier Carpentier at 149. Second-ranked Tyler Goebel won by forfeit at 157-pounds to give UWL a 23-3 lead.
 
At 165-pounds, Tate Flege won by fall (1:50) over Brixton Bright at 165-pounds while Leo Draveling won by major decision (9-0) over Jack Smith at 174. Tyler Dormanen earned the win by technical fall (17-2) over Garrett Iobe at 184-pounds.
 
Ben Kawczynski, ranked third at 197-pounds, won by technical fall (16-0) over Bernard Harrison and Gabe Carter completed the victory with a win by fall (1:49) over Colton Turk at 285.
 
UWL and TCNJ were facing each other for the second time this year after UWL earned a 20-15 victory in La Crosse on November 14.

 

Fourteenth-ranked Quintin Wolbert opened Friday's dual versus TCNJ with a win by decision (4-0) over 13th-ranked Matt Griffin at 125-pounds to make it 3-0. It was a rematch from earlier this season when Griffin won by decision (8-6) over Wolbert. 

The Lions took the next three matches for an 11-3 lead Friday. Garrett Totten won by technical fall (21-5) over Teague Holzer at 133-pounds while 14th-ranked Sam Kotch won by decision (9-5) over Talan Schutte at 141. TCNJ's Mike Conklin, ranked 14th in the NWCA at 149, won by decision (9-5) over Talan Schutte. Kotch won by decision (8-4) over Schutte and Conklin by fall (4:40) over Cherba in the previous dual between the teams this season.
 
Goebel won by decision (7-2) over Jason Giordano at 157-pounds on Friday to cut the lead to 11-6. Flege followed with a decision (9-5) over fourth-ranked Nicholas Sacco at 165-pounds to make it 11-9. 
 
TCNJ extended its lead to 14-9 as ninth-ranked Hunter Mays won by decision (3-2) over seventh-ranked Eddie Simes at 174-pounds. In another match-up of top-10 ranked wrestlers, UWL's Marcus Orlandoni, ranked eighth at 184, won by sudden victory (4-1) over 10th-ranked Alex Strashinsky to cut the deficit to 14-12. Orlandoni also earned a 4-1 win over Strashsinky on November 14.
 
UWL took a 15-14 lead after Kawczynski won by decision (2-0) over DJ Henry at 197-pounds. The Eagles secured the victory as top-ranked Michael Douglas won by technical fall (19-3) over Matthew Coon at 285-pounds. Douglas had earned a technical all (21-6) over Coon on November 14.