(CEDAR FALLS, Iowa, January 9)- The No. 2 McKendree University wrestling team capped off their weekend with a 25-13 victory over No. 12 Southern Oregon University to claim fifth place at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals.

The Bearcats improved to 13-2 overall and sets a new school record for wins in a season. McKendree will travel to Lebanon, Tenn., on Sunday, January 16th to compete in the Cumberland University Open. Matches will begin at 10 a.m.

A major decision loss at 125 pounds dug the Bearcats an early 4-0 deficit, only for McKendree to rattle off three straight wins to take a 13-4 lead. Junior Rashad Riley (Hoffman Estates, Ill., Conant) earned a 14-11 decision at 133 pounds to get the Bearcats on the scoreboard, and junior Kyle Williams (Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Mascoutah) earned a win by pinfall in 1:46 to give McKendree the lead. Senior Ryan Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill., Bolingbrook) earned a major decision win at 149 pounds to give the Bearcats the nine point advantage.

A close decision loss at 157 pounds was followed by a decision win by sophomore Isaiah Gonzalez (Montgomery, Ill., Montini Catholic), but McKendree lost back-to-back bouts by decision at 174 and 184 pounds that cut their lead down to 16-13 with two matches remaining. Sophomore Kyle Reid (Belleville, Ill., Belleville East) earned a pinfall win over No. 8 Ronald Lee at 197 pounds in 1:46 that sealed the victory and sophomore Andrew Davis (Loves Park, Ill., Harlem) earned a decision victory at heavyweight to bring the final score to 25-13.

NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals - Fifth Place Match
No. 2 McKendree - 25, No. 12 Southern Oregon - 13

125 - Tyler Lander (SOU) MD Tyler Orr (Mattoon, Ill./Mattoon) (McK), 9 - 1
133 - Rashad Riley (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Conant) (McK) DEC Jared Dalgleish (SOU), 14 - 11
141 - Kyle Williams (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) (McK) FALL Justin Eldred (SOU), (1:46)
149 - Ryan Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) (McK) MD Kyle Wirkuty (SOU), 8 - 0
157 - Tommie Norton/Hooper (SOU) DEC Josh Ballard (Troy, Ill./Triad) (McK), 7 - 5
165 - Isaiah Gonzalez (Montgomery, Ill./Montini Catholic) (McK) DEC Justin Mills (SOU), 11 - 5
174 - Austin Vanderford (SOU) DEC Kyle Hanner (Wood River, Ill./East Alton-Wood River) (McK), 3 - 2
184 - Derek Rottenberg (SOU) DEC Tanner Wolk (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./Ste. Genevieve) (McK), 8 - 4
197 - Kyle  Reid (McK) FALL Ronald Lee (SOU), (1:46)
285 - Andrew Davis (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) (McK) DEC Samuel Sprauer (SOU), 7 - 4