(St. LOUIS, Mo., Feb. 16)- The No. 13 McKendree University wrestling team closed out its regular season on Sunday by splitting two dual matches at the Dr. Mark Lombardi/Maryville University Duals.

The Bearcats will travel to Tiffin, Ohio on March 1 to compete at the NCAA Regional Tournament hosted by Tiffin University.

McKendree was edged in its first dual of the day by No. 1 Notre Dame College 20-13. The Bearcats lost its first three matches to trail 10-0 early, but picked up back-to-back major decision wins by No. 6 Kyle Williams (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) and No. 4 Josh Ballard (Troy, Ill./Triad) at 149 and 157 pounds to cut the deficit to 10-7. The Bearcats lost its next two matches at 165 and 174 pounds, but junior John Vogt (Festus, Mo./Ste. Genevieve) upset No. 7 Garrett Lineberger in a 7-5 decision at 184 pounds and No. 4 Julian Smith (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) defeted No. 3 Barndonn Johnson, 6-4, at 197 pounds to come within 17-13 with one match remaining. The Bearcats lost a 3-2 decision at heayweight to fall 20-13.

McKendree picked up bonus points in four of its six wins to push themselves to a 23-14 win over No. 20 Ouachita Baptist University in its final dual of the day. Senior Brenden Murphy (Palos Park, Ill./Marian Catholic) upset No. 6 Nathan Rodriguez, 3-2, at 133 pouds to give the Bearcats their first win of the dual. Graduate student No. 6 Kyle Williams (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) earned a 15-0 tech fall win over Zachary Matthews at 149 pounds to give McKendree its first lead of the match, 8-7. The Bearcats trailed 10-8 after a decision loss at 157 pounds, but picked up two-straight major decision wins by junior's Nick Haferkamp (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln Community) and Luis Alba (Kissimmee, Fla./Cypress Creek) at 165 and 174 pounds to regain the lead 16-10. A major decision loss at 184 made the score 16-14, but McKendree got a major decision win by Smith at 197 pounds and a decision victory by junior Ross Janney (Daleville, Ind./Yorktown) at heavyweight to seal the 23-14 win.


Dual Match Result
No. 13 McKendree University - 13
No. 1 Notre Dame College - 20
St. Louis, Mo.

125 – Brian Hauser (ND) def. Jose Torres (McK), 9-4 | 3-0
133 – #5 Marty Carlson (ND) def. Brenden Murphy (McK), 7-1 | 6-0
141 – #2 Maurice Miller (ND) maj. dec. Ryan Strope (McK), 12-4 | 10-0
149 – #6 Kyle Williams (McK) maj. dec. Andrew Bannister (ND), 11-2 | 10-4
157 – #4 Josh Ballard (McK) def. #7 Jonathan Rivera (ND), 7-5 | 10-7
165 – #2 Eric Burgey (ND) def. Nick Haferkamp (McK), 12-10 | 13-7
174 – #1 Joey Davis (ND) maj. dec. Luis Alba (McK), 13-4 | 17-7
184 – John Vogt (McK) def. #7 Garrett Lineberger (ND), 7-5 | 17-10
197 – #4 Julian Smith (Mck) def. #3 Brandonn Johnson (ND), 6-4 | 17-13
285 – Michael Burckhardt (ND) def. Ross Janney (McK), 3-2 | 20-13


Dual Match Result
No. 13 McKendree University - 23
No. 20 Ouachita Baptist University - 14
St. Louis, Mo.

125 – #6 Garrett Evans (OBU) maj. dec. Jose Torres (McK), 10-1 | 0-4
133 – Brenden Murphy (McK) def. #6 Nathan Rodriguez (OBU), 3-2 | 3-4
141 – Joshua Myers (OBU) def. Ryan Strope (McK), 6-2 | 3-7
149 – #6 Kyle Williams (McK) tech fall Zachary Matthews (OBU), 15-0 | 8-7
157 – Bobby Williams (OBU) def. #4 Josh Ballard (McK), 5-2 | 8-10
165 – Nick Haferkamp (McK) maj. dec. Max Welsh (OBU), 14-3 | 12-10
174 – Luis Alba (McK) maj. dec. Elyjah Crumpler (OBU), 13-5 | 16-10
184 – #4 Dallas Smith (OBU) maj. dec. John Vogt (McK), 11-2 | 16-14
197 – #4 Julian Smith (Mck) maj. dec. O'Dell Lee (OBU), 10-2 | 20-14
285 – Ross Janney (McK) def. Nathan Jackson (OBU), 2-1 | 23-14