(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill., Feb. 4)- In a showdown between two of the top NCAA Division II wrestling teams in the country on Wednesday, the No. 11 McKendree University wrestling team upset No. 1 Maryville University in a dual match, 21-18, held at the Jon Davis Wrestling Center in Edwardsville, Ill.

The Bearcats improve to 12-4 overall and will travel to Indianapolis, Ind., on Friday, Feb. 6 to face University of Indianapolis at 7 p.m. ET.

McKendree lost the opening match at 125 pounds, but tied things up, 3-3, following a 6-4 win by sophomore Ryan Strope (Westphalia, Mo., Fatima) over Dakota Bauer at 133 pounds.

Freshman Darren Wynn (Champaign, Ill., Centennial) extended the lead to 9-3 following a forfeit win at 141 pounds, but the Saints tied things up after winning by fall at 149 pounds. Senior Josh Ballard (Troy, Ill., Triad) earned an 11-6 decision win over No. 8 ranked Greg Hegarty at 157 pounds, and No. 4 ranked senior Nick Haferkamp (Lincoln, Ill., Lincoln Community) earned a 6-4 decision win over No. 2 Dimitri Willis at 165 pounds to put the Bearcats back in front 15-9.

The Saints tied things up with a pin at 174 pounds, but back-to-back wins by senior John Vogt (Festus, Mo., Ste. Genevieve) at 184 pounds over No. 3 Nick Burghardt, and No. 2 ranked senior Julian Smith (Florissant, Mo., Hazelwood Central) over No. 4 Ryan Beltz at 197 pounds, gave McKendree a 21-15 lead heading into the final match.

Senior Ross Janney (Daleville, Ind., Yorktown) gave No. 4 ranked Donnell Walker all he could handle in the heavyweight finale, but Walker earned a 4-3 win in the second tiebreaker to make the final score 21-15.

Match-By-Match Results
No. 11 McKendree University - 21
No. 1 Maryville University - 18

125- Jaret Singh (MU) def. Steve Murphy (McK), Dec. 9-5 | 0-3
133- Ryan Strope (McK) def. Dakota Bauer (MU), Dec. 6-4 | 3-3
141- #7 Darren Wynn (McK) by Forfeit | 9-3
149- #1 Keenan Hagerty (MU) pins Trent Williams (McK), Fall 3:45  | 9-9
157- Josh Ballard (McK) def. #8 Greg Hegarty (MU), Dec. 11-6 | 12-9
165- #4 Nick Haferkamp (McK) def. #2 Dimitri Willis (MU), Dec. 6-4 | 15-9
174- #3 Zeb Wahle (MU) pins Luis Alba (McK), Fall 6:33 | 15-15
184- John Vogt (McK) def. #3 Nick Burghardt (MU), Dec. 7-2 | 18-15
197- #2 Julian Smith (McK) def. #4 Ryan Beltz (MU), Dec. 9-4 | 21-15
HWT-  #4 Donnell Walker (MU) def. Ross Janney (McK), TB2 RT 4-3 | 21-18