(Fort Wayne, Ind. Jan. 6) – The McKendree University men's wrestling team wrapped up the 2017 NWCA Division II National Duals posting a 4-1 record to grab a fifth place finish.

The Bearcats opened up the day collecting an 18-12 victory over Upper Iowa University. With the score sitting at 15-12 heading into the final match, senior captain Coltyn Pease (Pittsfield, Ill./Pittsfield) was able to seal the victory for McKendree. The Bearcats would hold the advantage 6-4 in match wins during the dual.  

In the fifth place match-up, the Bearcats would face fourth-ranked University of Nebraska Kearney. In the 149-pound match-up, Ruben Garcia (Selma, CA/Selma) would collect a key pin to give McKendree a 9-7 lead. The Bearcats would then rally to win four of the last five matches to secure the 24-14 victory.

The Bearcats are back in action on Saturday, January 14 as the team travels to Somers, Wisconsin for the Ranger Duals.
Match-By-Match Results

Match #4 McKendree University defeated Upper Iowa 18-12
125 - Maleek Williams (Upper Iowa) over Charles McNeal (Florissant, MO) (McKendree University) Dec 6-5
133 - Naquan Hardy (McKendree University) over Josh Walker (Upper Iowa) Dec 7-6
141 - Darren Wynn (Champaign, Ill./Centennial) (McKendree University) over Jordan Roths (Upper Iowa) Dec 9-3
149 - Damian Penichet (Upper Iowa) over Isaiah Kemper (Evansville, Ind./Central) (McKendree University) Dec 5-1
157 - Ryan Strope (Westphalia, Mo./Fatima) (McKendree University) over Zak Benitz (Upper Iowa) Dec 7-1
165 - Austin Geerlings (Kentwood, MI/East Kentwood) (McKendree University) over Colbey Vance (Upper Iowa) Dec 4-1
174 - Dalton Westerlund (Upper Iowa) over Nick Foster (Belleville, IL) (McKendree University) Dec 8-6
184 - Qiante Wagner (McKendree University) over Nick Baumler (Upper Iowa) Dec 11-9
197 - Triston Westerlund (Upper Iowa) over Luke Diener (Saint Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central) (McKendree University) SV-1 3-1
285 - Coltyn Pease (Pittsfield, Ill./Pittsfield) (McKendree University) over Logan Hopp (Upper Iowa) Dec 7-5

Match #5 McKendree University defeated Nebraska-Kearney 24-14
125 - Vlad Kazakov (Nebraska-Kearney) over Charles McNeal (Florissant, MO) (McKendree University) Maj 13-2
133 - Bryce Shoemaker (Nebraska-Kearney) over Naquan Hardy (McKendree University) Dec 4-0
141 - Darren Wynn (Champaign, Ill./Centennial) (McKendree University) over Jeff Bizzle (Nebraska-Kearney) Dec 7-4
149 - Ruben Garcia (Selma, CA/Selma) (McKendree University) over Tevin Briscoe (Nebraska-Kearney) Fall 0:00
157 - Destin McCauley (Nebraska-Kearney) over Ryan Strope (Westphalia, Mo./Fatima) (McKendree University) Dec 5-2
165 - Austin Geerlings (Kentwood, MI/East Kentwood) (McKendree University) over Nickalas Babcock (Nebraska-Kearney) SV-1 7-5
174 - Nick Foster (Belleville, IL) (McKendree University) over Calvin Ochs (Nebraska-Kearney) Dec 5-2
184 - Zach Stodden (Nebraska-Kearney) over Qiante Wagner (McKendree University) Maj 12-3
197 - Luke Diener (Saint Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central) (McKendree University) over Trey Schlender (Nebraska-Kearney) Dec 5-2
285 - Coltyn Pease (Pittsfield, Ill./Pittsfield) (McKendree University) over Kevin Barrett (Nebraska-Kearney) Fall 4:21