(LEBANON, Ill., January 19)- The No. 8 McKendree University wrestling team avenged its only NAIA dual loss of the season on Wednesday night with a 22-17 win over No. 7 Lindenwood University at the Melvin Price Convocation Center.

The Bearcats improved to 14-2 overall this season and will travel to Marshall, Mo., on January 22nd to compete at the Missouri Valley College Invitational. Matches will begin at 10 a.m.

After the dual started at 157 pounds, McKendree dropped its first three matches and found itself in an early 11-0 deficit, before winning three straight to take a two-point lead. Sophomore Kyle Reid (Belleville, Ill., Belleville East) earned a 17-8 major decision win over Dirk Hurrin to put the Bearcats on the board, 11-4, and senior Tanner Wolk (Ste. Genevieve, Mo., Ste. Genevieve), wrestling up a weight class, followed with a pinfall winat 197 pounds over Ryan Rozell in 3:41 to bring McKendree within one, 11-10. Senior Andrew Sanchez (Shiloh, Ill., O'Fallon), also wrestling up one weight class, defeated No. 5 heavyweight Steven Butler with a 3-1 decision that gave McKendree a 13-11 lead.

After dropping a decision at 125 pounds, the Bearcats found themselves trailing 14-13, before senior Rashad Riley (Hoffman Estates, Ill., Conant) pinned Danil Osmer in 2:12 to place McKendree back in the lead, 19-14. The Bearcats dropped their 141-pound match to cut their lead to two, 19-17, but a gutsy performance by senior Ryan Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill., Bolingbrook) in the final match of the night sealed the victory for McKendree. Jahn fought through a leg injury he suffered late in the first period and earned a 8-6 decision win over Daniel Breit to give the Bearcats the 22-17 victory.

No. 8 McKendree (Ill.) - 22, No. 7 Lindenwood (Mo.) - 17

157 - Vince Hannon (LU) DEC Nicolas Haferkamp (McK), 3-0
165 - Drae Cox (LU) DEC Isaiah Gonzalez (Montgomery, Ill./Montini Catholic) (McK), 4-3
174 - Chris Chionuma (LU) TF5 Kyle Hanner (Wood River, Ill./East Alton-Wood River) (McK), 22-7 (7:00)
184 - Kyle Reid (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East) (McK) MD Dirk Hurrin (LU), 17-8
197 - Tanner Wolk (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./Ste. Genevieve) (McK) FALL Ryan Rozell (LU), (3:41)
285 - Andrew Sanchez (Shiloh, Ill./O'Fallon) (McK) DEC Steven Butler (LU) 3-1
125 - Andrew McArthur (LU) DEC Tyler Orr (Mattoon, Ill./Mattoon) (McK), 4-1
133 - Rashad Riley (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Conant) (McK) FALL Daniel Osmer (LU), (2:12)
141 - Jacob Janes (LU) DEC Kyle Williams (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) (McK), 5-0
149 - Ryan Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) (McK) DEC Daniel Breit (LU), 8-6