Wrestling | 1/10/2026 2:45:00 PM

Cedar Falls, Iowa - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team placed sixth at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)/U.S. Marine Corps Multi-Divisional National Duals Saturday at the University of Northern Iowa's UNI-Dome. The duals are presented by A Better Way Athletics, Capitol Construction and Defense Soap.

The Eagles, ranked third in the NWCA and the tournament's third seed, went 1-1 on Saturday. UWL earned a 32-14 victory seventh-ranked North Central College (Ill.) in the consolation semifinals before a 21-20 loss to fifth-ranked Loras College (Iowa) in the fifth-place match.

UWL, 12-2 in duals this season, has finished at least fifth in 10 of the last 15 NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals. The Eagles won the title in 2022. UWL was second in 2011 and third in 2012, 2024 and 2025. The team placed fourth in 2023 and fifth in 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2016.

North Central (Ill.) won the first two matches Saturday, taking an 11-0 lead. Christian Guzman won by technical fall (17-1) over Aiden Slama at 125-pounds while top-ranked Ethan Spacht won by fall (2:06) over Wyatt Magolski at 133.

Talan Schutte, ranked 12th for UWL at 141-pounds, earned the Eagles' first win with a decision (6-2) over Xavier Villalobos to make it 11-3. The Cardinals' extended their lead to 14-3 after Kayle Bearson won by decision (4-1) over Joe Penchi at 149.

UWL won the final six duals, starting with Kolt Knaack's win by decision (4-0) over Tyler Starr at 157-pounds to cut the lead to 14-6. Tanner Gerber, ranked third at 165, and Noah Leisgang both followed with technical fall wins. Gerber won by technical fall (17-0) over Mehki Cave at 165 while Leisgang won by technical fall (16-0) over Jake Luce at 174 to give UWL a 16-14 lead.

Third-ranked Tate Flege won by major decision (11-0) over AJ Frescura at 184-pounds and sixth-ranked Tyler Dormanen won by fall (6:20) over Casey Aikman at 197 to extend the lead to 26-14. Henry VanderHeiden concluded the dual with win by fall (4:54) over Luke Chrisse at 285-pounds.

Loras (Iowa) led UWL, 8-0, after the first two matches. Aidan Gruenenfelder won by technical fall (15-0) over Grant Madl at 125-pounds and Connor Fiser by decision (4-2) over Magolski at 133.

The Eagles cut the lead to 8-6. Marcus McIntyre won by decision (12-5) over Nosa Egbon at 141 and Aidan Baum won by decision (5-2) over Owen Seffrood at 149. The Duhawks' Eric Kinkaid, ranked sixth, extended the lead to 14-6 with a fall (6:34) over Knaack at 157-pounds.

Gerber's major decision (16-3) over Braylon Griffiths at 165 cut the deficit to 14-10. At 174-pounds, Loras (Iowa) earned a win by decision (1-0) over fifth-ranked Eddie Simes to make it 17-10.

Flage cut the lead to 17-15 with a technical fall (16-0) over Landry Barker at 184. The Eagles took a 20-17 lead with Dormanen winning by technical fall (17-0) over Kam Royster at 197.

Jonah Clark of Loras (Iowa) won by decision (6-1) over 10th-ranked Markos Mihalopoulos at 285-pounds to force a 20-20 tie. Loras (Iowa) earned one team point to secure the 21-20 victory as it recorded a win by fall by Kinkaid.

The Eagles went 2-1 on Friday at the NWCA Duals, earning a 27-13 victory over 18th-ranked the University of Chicago (Ill.) in their first match. UWL fell, 20-16, to sixth-ranked Roanoke College (Va.) in the quarterfinals before coming back to earn a 37-3 win over 14th-ranked Vermont State University Castleton in the consolation round.

For Friday's recap, click here.

UWL returns to action Saturday, January 17 at the Cornell College (Iowa) Mike Duroe Invite at 9 a.m.