(FORT WAYNE, Ind., Jan. 9)- The No. 6 McKendree University wrestling team went 2-1 on Friday on the opening day at the NWCA National Duals.

The Bearcats are now 6-1 overall this season and will face-off against No. 11 University of Central Oklahoma on Saturday in the consolation semifinals at 9 a.m. ET.

McKendree edged No. 14 Newberry College, 19-14, to start the day in a matchup that came down to the last match of the dual. The Bearcats led 10-7 at the halfway point and took a 13-7 lead after senior Nick Haferkamp (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln Community) picked up a 9-7 win in sudden victory at 165 pounds. Both teams alternated victories for the remainder of the dual, and McKendree only led, 16-14, heading into the heavyweight match. Sophomore Coltyn Pease (Pittsfield, Ill., Pittsfield) won a 7-3 decision over Cody Brundage at heavyweight to seal the victory.

The Bearcats were unable to string together key victories in its second match against No. 17 Upper Iowa University and fell 19-15. McKendree tied things up, 6-6, following a 3-1 sudden victory win by sophomore Trent Williams (Stillwater, Okla., Perry) over Trevor Duke at 149 pounds, but the Bearcats lost four straight matches to fall behind 18-6 with two matches left. Senior Julian Smith (Florissant, Mo., Hazelwood Central) and Pease both earned wins by decision and forfeit, respectively, but the match was out of reach and McKendree fell into the consolation bracket.

In the consolation quarterfinals, the Bearcats gave up a major decision in the opening match, but rattled off five-straight wins, including two by fall, to jump out to a 21-4 lead. A decision win by sophomore Ryan Strope (Westphalia, Mo., Fatima) at 133 pounds put McKendree on the board, and fellow sophomore Darren Wynn (Champaign, Ill., Centennial) followed by pinning Noah Killip at 141 pounds in 1:02 to take its first lead 9-4. Williams followed with a decision victory and senior Josh Ballard (Troy, Ill., Triad) pinned Bradley Little at 157 pounds to take an 18-4 lead, before senior Nick Haferkamp (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln Community) (Lincoln, Ill., Lincoln Community) earned a 13-7 decision at 165 to extend the lead to 21-4. McKendree won two of its final four matches to hold on to the 30-10 win over Fort Hays State.

Match-by-Match Results
No. 6 McKendree University - 19
No. 14 Newberry College - 14

125- Trung Duong (NC) def. Steve Murphy (McK), MD 9-1 | 0-4
133- Ryan Strope (McK) def. Jordan Simpson (NC), Dec. 6-2 | 3-4
141- Darren Wynn (McK) def. Nick Langford (NC), MD 17-7 | 7-4
149- Seiji Borja (NC) def. Trent Williams (McK), Dec. 9-2 | 7-7
157- Josh Ballard (McK) def. Dennis Flores (NC), Dec. 7-3 | 10-7
165- Nick Haferkamp (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln Community) (McK) def. Lukas Gilmore (NC), SV1 9-7 | 13-7
174- Joe Pittman (NC) def. Luis Alba (McK), MD 12-1 | 13-11
184- John Vogt (McK) def. Jared Holliday (NC), TB1 3-2 | 16-11
197- Huston Evans (NC) def. Julian Smith (McK), Dec. 3-2 | 16-14
HWT- Coltyn Pease (McK) def. Cody Brundage (NC), Dec. 7-3 | 19-14

Match-by-Match Results
No. 6 McKendree University - 15
No. 17 Upper Iowa University - 19

125- Garrett Wangsness (UIU) def. Steve Murphy (McK), Dec. 7-1 | 0-3
133- Matt Paulus (UIU) def. Ryan Strope (McK), Dec. 8-1 | 0-6
141- Darren Wynn (McK) def. Jordan Roth (UIU), Dec. 9-7 | 3-6
149- Trent Williams (McK) def. Trevor Duke (UIU), SV1 3-1 | 6-6
157- Jordan Rinken (UIU) def. Josh Ballard (McK), Dec. 3-0  | 6-9
165- Colbey Vance (UIU) def. Nick Haferkamp (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln Community) (McK), Dec. 7-0  | 6-12
174- Dalton Westerlund (UIU) def. Luis Alba (McK), Dec. 3-2  | 6-15
184- Blake Sorenson (UIU) def. John Vogt (McK), Dec. 10-6 | 6-18
197- Julian Smith (McK) def. Brock Gobin (UIU), Dec. 1-0 | 9-18
HWT- Coltyn Pease (McK) by Forfeit | 15-18

Match-By-Match Results
No. 6 McKendree University - 30
Fort Hays State University - 10

125- Lawson Ludwin (FH) def. Steve Murphy (McK), MD 9-1 | 0-4
133- Ryan Strope (McK) def. Anthony Calderon (FH), Dec. 9-6 | 3-4
141- Darren Wynn (McK) pinned Noah Killip (FH), Fall 1:02 | 9-4
149- Trent Williams (McK) def. Matt Ziegler (FH), Dec. 18-13 | 12-4
157- Josh Ballard (McK) pinned Bradley Little (FH), Fall 1:30 | 18-4
165- Nick Haferkamp (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln Community) (McK) def. Bryce Lewis (FH), Dec. 13-7 | 21-4
174- Josh Rodriguez (FH) def. Luis Alba (McK), Dec. 3-2 | 21-7
184- John Vogt (McK) pinned Jon Inman (FH), Fall 1:34 | 27-7
197- Julian Smith (McK) def. Cash Drylie (FH), Dec. 11-5 | 30-7
HWT- Jack Page (FH) def. Coltyn Pease (McK), Dec. 8-2 | 30-10