(Fort Wayne, Ind. Jan. 5) – The McKendree University men's wrestling team opened the new year with three duals at the NCAA Division II National Duals in Fort Wayne, Indiana this evening. The Bearcats went 2-1 on the day upsetting the number two team in the nation in Notre Dame (Ohio).

In the first dual of the day, McKendree fell in the final match against eighth ranked University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. The Bearcats held a 12-3 lead before the Mountain Cats were able to rally back to claim an 18-15 victory.

McKendree bounced back in the second dual to post a 30-12 victory over San Francisco State University. Luke Diener (Saint Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central) would grab the first pin of the tournament for the Bearcats as he pinned Johnny Costa to seal the McKendree victory.

The Bearcats wrapped up the day with a 22-16 upset victory over second ranked Notre Dame (Ohio). Heading into the final match, the score was tied 16-16. Coltyn Pease (Pittsfield, Ill./Pittsfield) would pin Kameron Teacher for the McKendree victory.

The Bearcats are back in action tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. as they take on University of Upper Iowa.

Match-By-Match Results

Match #1 Pitt-Johnstown defeated McKendree University 18-15
125 - Sam Hollandez (Pitt-Johnstown) over Charles McNeal (Florissant, MO) (McKendree University) Dec 9-5
133 - NaQuan Hardy (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) (McKendree University) over Joe Davis (Pitt-Johnstown) Dec 6-2
141 - Darren Wynn (Champaign, Ill./Centennial) (McKendree University) over Chris Eddins (Pitt-Johnstown) Dec 6-2
149 - Isaiah Kemper (Evansville, Ind./Central) (McKendree University) over Corey Falleroni (Pitt-Johnstown) Dec 8-4
157 - Ryan Strope (Westphalia, Mo./Fatima) (McKendree University) over Steve Edwards (Pitt-Johnstown) Dec 5-1
165 - Tyler Reinhart (Pitt-Johnstown) over Austin Geerlings (Kentwood, MI/East Kentwood) (McKendree University) Fall 0:36
174 - John Blankenship (Pitt-Johnstown) over Nick Foster (Belleville, IL) (McKendree University) Dec 6-1
184 - Qiante Wagner (McKendree University) over Levi Niebauer (Pitt-Johnstown) Dec 7-4
197 - Tyler Oliver (Pitt-Johnstown) over Luke Diener (Saint Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central) (McKendree University) Dec 3-1
285 - Damon Sims (Pitt-Johnstown) over Coltyn Pease (Pittsfield, Ill./Pittsfield) (McKendree University) Dec 8-2

Match #2 McKendree University defeated San Francisco State 30-12
125 - Matt Gamble (San Francisco State) over Charles McNeal (Florissant, MO) (McKendree University) Dec 7-2
133 - Nate Cervantez (San Francisco State) over Naquan Hardy (McKendree University) Dec 8-3
141 - Darren Wynn (Champaign, Ill./Centennial) (McKendree University) over Josh Villaflor (San Francisco State) TF 22-7
149 - Ruben Garcia (Selma, CA/Selma) (McKendree University) over Dylan Furtado (San Francisco State) Maj 16-3
157 - Ryan Strope (Westphalia, Mo./Fatima) (McKendree University) over Trevor Perez (San Francisco State) Maj 8-0
165 - Austin Geerlings (Kentwood, MI/East Kentwood) (McKendree University) over Tyson Kuahine (San Francisco State) Maj 20-7
174 - Nick Foster (Belleville, IL) (McKendree University) over Morris Wilner (San Francisco State) Dec 4-3
184 - Mtichell Owens (San Francisco State) over Qiante Wagner (McKendree University) Fall 2:02
197 - Luke Diener (Saint Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central) (McKendree University) over Johnny Costa (San Francisco State) Fall 5:32
285 - Christian Boyles (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs South) (McKendree University) over Ricardo Jaramillo (San Francisco State) Maj 13-2

Match #3 McKendree University defeated Notre Dame (Ohio) 22-16
125 - Ivan McClay (Notre Dame (Ohio)) over Charles McNeal (Florissant, MO) (McKendree University) Maj 15-3
133 - Naquan Hardy (McKendree University) over David Bavery (Notre Dame (Ohio)) Dec 3-1
141 - Darren Wynn (Champaign, Ill./Centennial) (McKendree University) over Drew Walker (Notre Dame (Ohio)) Dec 6-4
149 - Ruben Garcia (Selma, CA/Selma) (McKendree University) over Cobey Fehr (Notre Dame (Ohio)) Dec 5-4
157 - Ryan Strope (Westphalia, Mo./Fatima) (McKendree University) over Fernie Silva (Notre Dame (Ohio)) Dec 11-4
165 - Isaiah White (Notre Dame (Ohio)) over Austin Geerlings (Kentwood, MI/East Kentwood) (McKendree University) Fall 2:50
174 - Nick Foster (Belleville, IL) (McKendree University) over Emilio Fowler (Notre Dame (Ohio)) Maj 8-0
184 - Tony Vezzetti (Notre Dame (Ohio)) over Qiante Wagner (McKendree University) Dec 8-6
197 - Garrett Lineberger (Notre Dame (Ohio)) over Luke Diener (Saint Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central) (McKendree University) Dec 5-0
285 - Coltyn Pease (Pittsfield, Ill./Pittsfield) (McKendree University) over Kameron Teacher (Notre Dame (Ohio)) Fall 7:00