Cedar Falls, Iowa - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team went 2-1 on the first day of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)/U.S. Marine Corps Multi-Divisional National Duals Friday 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, opened with a 27-13 victory over 18th-ranked the University of Chicago (Ill.) by the score of 27-13. 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.
UWL, 11-1 on the season, returns to action Saturday, January 10 facing seventh-ranked North Central College (Ill.) in the consolation semifinals. The Eagles can claim fifth-place in the duals tournament with a pair of wins Saturday.
UWL dropped its first four matches in its victory over Chicago (Ill.). The Maroons' Matthew Barlay won by decision (7-0) over the Eagles'
Grant Madl at 125-pounds for a 3-0 lead. Chicago (Ill.) extended the lead to 6-0 at 133 as Jackson Rustad won by sudden victory (4-1) over
Wyatt Magolski.
Seventh-ranked Sean Conway gave Chicago (Ill.) a 9-0 lead with a decision (5-2) over 12th-ranked
Talan Schutte at 141. Maksim Mukhamedaliyev, ranked sixth at 149-pounds, won by major decision (10-1) over UWL's
Aidan Baum to make it 13-0.
UWL won the next six duals.
Kolt Knaack won by decision (5-4) over Cole Joseph at 157-pounds and third-ranked
Tanner Gerber won by technical fall (16-0) over Nick Cheshier at 165 to cut the lead to 13-8. Fifth-ranked
Eddie Simes followed with a major decision (13-3) over Hutch Lynott at 174-pounds make it 13-12.
The Eagles took their first lead at 184 with third-ranked
Tate Flege winning by technical fall (18-1) over Jackson Davis for a 17-13 lead. Sixth-ranked
Tyler Dormanen won by major decision (10-0) at 197-pounds to make it 21-13 and
Henry VanderHeiden concluded the dual with a win by fall (2:51) over Edward Perry at 285-pounds.
Roanoke won the first five matches in its victory over UWL. Mac Cafurello opened with a decision (3-1) over
Cole Gentsch at 125-pounds followed by Jude Robson winning by sudden victory (5-2) over Magolski at 133 for a 6-0 lead.
Top-ranked Mark Samuel won by decision (9-5) over Schutte at 141-pounds and fifth-ranked Taylor Smith won by decision (8-2) over
Joe Penchi at 149. Casey Smith, ranked 11th at 157, extended the Maroons' lead to 17-0 with a technical fall (17-0) over
Zane AlObaidi.
UWL came back with three straight wins to cut the lead to 17-13. Gerber won by technical fall (17-2) over Cade Parent at 165-pounds while
Noah Leisgang won by major decision (9-0) over fourth-ranked Xavier Preston at 174. Flege followed with a major decision (14-3) over Brock Sullivan at 184.
The Maroons secured the dual win at 197-pounds with Lorenzo Pellot-Vazquez winning by decision (5-4) over Dormanen to make it 20-13.
Markos Mihalopoulos, ranked 10th at 285-pounds for UWL, concluded the dual with a win by decision (5-1) over Nicholas Cook to make the final score, 20-16.
UWL came back to secure a 39-3 victory over Vermont State University Castleton on Friday. The Spartans won the opening match at 125-pounds as seventh-ranked Andrew Marchese won by decision (12-10) over Gentsch.
The Eagles won the next nine duals. Magolski provided UWL a 6-3 lead with a win by fall (2:26) at 133-pounds over Stone Farnsworth. Schutte's win by decision (5-0) over Nicolas Baleela at 141 made it 9-3 and Baum's victory by fall (1:50) over Joseph Kennedy at 149-pounds extended the lead to 15-3.
Knaack won by decision (7-2) over ninth-ranked Nate Camiscioli at 157-pounds and Gerber secured a technical fall (15-0) over Jashon Holmes at 165. Simes followed with a major decision (11-1) over Joseph Baker at 174.
UWL's
Sedeeq AlObaidi won by decision (5-4) over Desmond McLaughlin at 184 and Dormanen earned a decision victory (3-0) over Josh Negron at 197. VanderHeiden completed the winning streak of nine matches with a fall (2:47) over Keonta Crawford at 285.
UWL has finished at least fifth in 10 of the last 14 NWCA Duals, winning the title in 2022. The Eagles were second in 2011 and third in 2012, 2024 and 2025. UWL placed fourth in 2023 and fifth in 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
