(KIRKSVILLE, Mo., Feb. 7)- The No. 13 McKendree University men's wrestling team won its third straight dual match on Friday night at Truman State University 29-9.

The Bearcats improved to 10-2 overall with the victory and will host its final home dual of the season on Wednesday, Feb. 12 against No. 11 University of Indianapolis at 7 p.m.

McKendree got off to a fast start with four straight wins to open the match. Junior Jose Torres (Cicero, Ill./Morton East) set the tone early with a major decision win over Jabez Zinabu at 125 pounds to give the Bearcats a 4-0 lead out of the gate, and senior Brenden Murphy (Palos Park, Ill./Marian Catholic) picked up a foreit win at 133 pounds to extend the lead to 10-0 after two matches.

Freshman Ryan Strope (Westphalia, Mo./Fatima) made the score 13-0 after edging Mark Smith in a 7-5 decision at 141 pounds, and eighth ranked graduate student Kyle Williams (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) earned a huge win by pinning sixth ranked Ryan Maus at 149 pounds to give McKendree a commanding 19-0 lead.

The Bulldogs cut their deficit to 14 by winning thre of the next four matches. A close decision win by Truman State at 157 pounds put them on the board, 19-3, but junior Nick Haferkamp (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln Community) defeated Devon Fenstermaker by major decision, 11-3, at 165 pounds to extend the Bearcat lead to 23-3. Truman State answered with back-to-back decision victories at 174 and 184 pounds to cut the McKendree lead to 23-9.

Junior Julian Smith (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central), ranked No. 4 at 197 pounds, stopped the Bulldogs from gaining anymore momentum with a 7-3 decision victory over Helmut Rentschler to extend the lead to 26-9, and junior heavyweight Ross Janney (Daleville, Ind./Yorktown) closed out the dual with a 6-1 decision win over Ben Dudley to giev McKendree the 29-9 win.

Dual Match Result
No. 13 McKendree University - 29
Truman State University - 9
Kirksville, Mo.

125- Jose Torres (McK) def. Jabez Zinabu (TSU), MD 13-3 | 4-0
133- Brenden Murphy (McK) by forfeit | 10-0
141- Ryan Strope (McK) def.  Mark Smith (TSU), Dec. 7-5 | 13-0
149- #8 Kyle Williams (McK) pinned #6 Ryan Maus (TSU), Fall 4:26 | 19-0
157- Colton Schmitz (TSU) def. #4 Josh Ballard (McK), Dec. 3-0 | 19-3
165- Nick Haferkamp (McK) def. Devon Fenstermaker (TSU), MD 11-3 | 23-3
174- Chase Wrisinger (TSU) def. Cody Willis (McK), Dec. 5-4 | 23-6
184- Ryan Ward (TSU) def. Andrew Krawulski (McK), Dec. 6-4 | 23-9
197- #4 Julian Smith (McK) def. Helmut Rentschler (TSU), Dec. 7-3 | 26-9
HWT- Ross Janney (McK) def. Ben Dudley (TSU), Dec. 6-1 | 29-9