(Champaign, Ill., Dec. 13)—The McKendree University wrestling team lost dropped two dual matches on Saturday, losing to the University of Illinois and University of Findlay 39-9 and 39-6, respectively.

In the Bearcats' first dual Saturday, McKendree had three wrestlers earn wins against the Fighting Illini. Trailing 17-0, sophomore Andrew Sanchez (Shiloh, Ill./) (Shiloh, Ill./O'Fallon) won a 3-2 decision over Patrick Bond at 197 pounds to make the score 17-3. After three more losses, senior Jermaine Waye (Altama, Ga./) (Brunswick, Ga./Glynn Academy) made the score 33-6 after a 5-4 decision win over Zeke Rowan at 141 pounds. Sophomore Ryan Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill./) (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) followed Waye with a 4-2 decision win at 149 pounds over Eric Terrazas, 4-2, to make the score 33-9, but a loss at 157 pounds dealt the Bearcats a 39-9 loss.

In the dual against Findlay, McKendree's lone win came from sophomore Wade Lowe (Godfrey, Ill./) (Godfrey, Ill./Alton) at 133 pounds. Lowe pinned Alex Shumaker in 3:30 to cut the score to 27-6, but Findlay won three major decisions in the last three matches to deal McKendree its third straight dual loss, 39-6.

The Bearcats, currently the No. 2 team in the NAIA, will return to the mat January 10-11 in Cedar Falls, Iowa at the NWCA National Duals. Matches are set to begin at 10 a.m.

-McK-