(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 15)—The McKendree University wrestling team won its first three matches by pinfall and never looked back in cruising to a 39-6 dual match victory Thursday at home against Cumberland University.

 

The Bearcats won eight of the 10 matches contested in their first home dual match of the 2007-08 season. McKendree, which is ranked No. 8 in the NAIA pre-season wrestling poll, remains perfect in dual competition at 3-0. The Bearcats will return to action Saturday at Missouri Valley College. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.

 

Sophomore Aaron Winning (Highland, Ill./) (Highland, Ill.) set the tone for McKendree by winning his 165-pound match by pinfall at the 4:01 mark. Sophomores Josh Bryant (Tuttle, Okla./) (Tuttle, Okla.) and Tanner Wolk (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./) (St. Genevieve, Mo.) followed at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively, each with pins coming with just one second left in the first period.

 

Senior Adam Hicks (Eureka, Mo./) (Eureka, Mo.) added a 7-4 win at 197 pounds before Zak Adomanis (Bowie, Md./Progressive Christian) (Bowie, Md.) battled to a 3-1 decision in the evening’s heavyweight contest. Freshman Wade Lowe (Godfrey, Ill./) (Godfrey, Ill.) recorded the Bearcats’ final win via pinfall at 133 pounds to start a run of three consecutive wins for McKendree.

 

The NAIA’s No. 1-ranked wrestler at 141 pounds, senior Kyle Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) (Bolingbrook, Ill.), rolled to an 18-3 victory for a win by technical pinfall. Freshman Jo-E Smith (Vandalia, Ill.) registered the Bearcats’ final win in the highest-scoring match of the night, a 19-11 win.

 

165 pounds – Aaron Winning (Highland, Ill./) (McK) pinned David Wiese (CU) at 4:01

174 pounds – Josh Bryant (Tuttle, Okla./) (McK) pinned Kurt Hamilton (CU) at 2:59

184 pounds – Tanner Wolk (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./) (McK) pinned Jordan Powers (CU) at 2:59

197 pounds – Adam Hicks (Eureka, Mo./) (McK) dec. Kyle Studer (CU), 7-4

Heavyweight –Zak Adomanis (Bowie, Md./Progressive Christian) (McK) dec. B.J. Stewart (CU), 3-1

125 pounds – Desean Willis (CU) dec. A.J. Ciccarelli (Edwardsville, Ill./) (McK), 7-2

133 pounds – Wade Lowe (Godfrey, Ill./) (McK) pinned Mikey Davis (CU) at 2:23

141 pounds – Kyle Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) (McK) won by technical fall vs. Eddie Sanchez (CU) at 6:57 (19-3)

149 pounds – Jo-E Smith (McK) won by maj. dec. vs. Theo Dotson (CU), 19-11

157 pounds – Corey Bleaken (CU) dec. Daniel Yuraitis (McK), 11-6

 

McKendree is now 3-0 in dual matches this season.