LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Third-ranked Johnson & Wales edged Wartburg by a point in the semifinals, but the second-ranked Knights bounced back to claim third place Saturday at the Division III NWCA National Duals.
Johnson and Wales got a key, 4-3 win at 141 pounds and a pin at 149 that proved to be the difference in an 18-17 semifinal win that was Wartburg’s first dual defeat of the season. It also kept the Knights out of the National Duals finals for the first time since the tournament began in 2002.
Each team won five matches, but top-ranked Cross Cannone was the only wrestler to score bonus points for the Knights with his technical fall at 157 pounds.
In the third-place match, Wartburg (9-1) handled No. 5 Wabash, 27-13. Brennen Doebel and Brock Rathbun scored pins, Brady Kyner posted a technical fall and Michael Ross racked up a major decision.
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Top-ranked Augsburg defeated Johnson & Wales 20-13 for the Division III title.
In the Division II tournament, Upper Iowa lost a pair of duals Saturday and finished eighth. It marked the 11th time in the last 12 seasons the Peacocks have placed among the top eight.
Lindenwood edged Upper Iowa 26-21 early in the day before Central Oklahoma topped the Peacocks 24-12 in the seventh-place matchup.
Justin Folley won both of his matches at 133 for Upper Iowa with a pin and a sudden victory decision. Nick Baumler also won twice with a pair of decisions.
Summaries
Division II
CONSOLATION
Lindenwood 26, Upper Iowa 21
125 — Carlos Jacquez (Lin) tech. fall over Maleek Williams, 20-4, 133 — Justin Folley (UIU) pinned Tanner Hitchcock, 2:41, 141 — Tyler Wicken (Lin) pinned Ryan Schmalen, 1:09, 149 — Gavin Londoff (Lin) dec. Ryan Steffen, 6-2, 157 — Nate Trepanier (Lin) pinned Tucker Black, 1:02, 165 — Kyle Jolas (Lin) dec. Brock Benitz, 8-6, SV1, 174 — Jordan Gundrum (UIU) pinned Jorge Guerrero, 1:59, 184 — Colton Clingenpeel (Lin) dec. Dalton Hahn, 10-3, 197 — Nick Baumler (UIU) dec. Jared McKindley, 6-2, 285 — Triston Westerlund (UIU) pinned Tage McNutt, 4:46.
Cent. Okla. 24, Upper Iowa 12
125 — Noah McQuigg (CO) dec. Williams, 13-11, 133 — Folley (UIU) dec. Rio Zamora, 9-7, SV1, 141 — Will Steltzlen (CO) maj. dec. Schmalen, 10-2, 149 — Brik Filippo (CO) tech. fall over Steffen, 17-2, 157 — Dayton Garrett (CO) dec. Mac Spotts, 13-6, 165 — Benitz (UIU) dec. Wyatt Jordan, 8-5, 174 — Connor Williams (UIU) dec. Devin Crawl, 6-2, 184 — Heath Gray (CO) dec. Hahn, 6-4, 197 — Baumler (UIU) dec. Colton Looper, 7-5, 285 — Blake Berryhill (CO) pinned Westerlund, 6:59.
Division III
SEMIFINALS
Johnson & Wales 18, Wartburg 17
125 — Jay Albis (JW) dec. Brady Kyner, 3-0, 133 — Brock Rathbun (Wart) dec. Bobby Jordan, 11-5, 141 — Joe Ferinde (JW) dec. Kris Rumph, 4-3, 149 — Da’Mani Burns (JW) pinned Brady Fritz, 2:23, 157 — Cross Cannone (Wart) tech. fall over Thomas Grippi, 15-0, 165 — Michael Ross (Wart) dec. Adrian Gonzalez, 8-2, 174 — Kyle Briggs (Wart) dec. Michael Gargano, 7-0, 184 — Khamri Thomas (JW) dec. Isaiah Cox, 4-1, 197 — Michael DiNardo (JW) dec. Kobe Woods, 5-3, 285 — Bowen Wileman (Wart) dec. Tommy Wrzesien, 11-4.
THIRD PLACE
Wartburg 27, Wabash 13
125 — Kyner (Wart) tech. fall over Carlos Champagne, 21-4, 133 — Brennen Doebel (Wart) pinned Chris Diaz, :38, 141 — Rathbun (Wart) pinned Owen Doster, :39, 149 — Griffin Schermer (Wab) dec. Max Forsyth, 6-2, 157 — Cannone (Wart) dec. Jared Timberman, 8-3, 165 — Ross (Wart) maj. dec. Kyle Hatch, 19-8, 174 — Darden Schurg (Wab) dec. Briggs, 11-4, 184 — Ethan Herrin (Wab) maj. dec. Cox, 11-1, 197 — Woods (Wart) dec. Levi Miller, 6-1, 285 — Max Bishop (Wab) dec. Wileman, 2-1.