(OWENSBORO, KY – Jan. 5) – The No.5 McKendree men's wrestling team opened up their 2021 schedule with a non-conference dual against Kentucky Wesleyan, Tuesday night. The Bearcats held the Panthers from scoring and record their first win of the season, 51-0.

James Kisgen's Team picked up from where they left off last season. Christian Mejia (Elkhart, IN/Elkhart Memorial) dropped a weight class this season and started at 125-lb for the Bearcats, recording his first win of the season, and setting the tone for the remainder of the dual. Five Bearcats would record their first victory of the season by pin, first from Devin Schwartzkopf (St. Louis, MO/Francis Howell Central and Greenways Academy) in his first start for the team. No.6 Nate Smalling (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) and Cory Peterson (Valmeyer, IL/De Smet Jesuit) would hit back-to-back, followed by Logan Kvien (Mundelein, IL/Mundelein) and Vincenzo Scaletta (Harwood Heights, IL/Ridgewood) in the final two rounds.

Below are the results from the dual:
No.5 McKendree 51, Kentucky Wesleyan 0

125 – Christian Mejia (Elkhart, IN/Elkhart Memorial) defeated Adam Bender in a 7-0 (McK 3, KWC 0)

133 – Tyler Delaware (Dunlap, IL/Washington Community) defeated Andrew Parker in a 9-5 (McK 6, KWC 0)

141 – Devin Schwartzkopf (St. Louis, MO/Francis Howell Central and Greenways Academy) defeated Caleb Craig by fall at 2:31 (McK 12, KWC 0)

149 – Frankie Falotico (Jefferson City, MO/Blair Oaks) defeated Trevor South in an 8-2 (McK 15, KWC 0)

157 – No.6 Nate Smalling (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) defeated DeAunte Epps by fall at 2:57 (McK 21, KWC 0)

165 – Cory Peterson (Valmeyer, IL/De Smet Jesuit) defeated Thomas Karlo by fall at 1:39 (McK 27, KWC 0)

174 – No.2 Joshua Jones (Chicago Heights, IL/Marian Catholic) was unmatched in the contest and won by default (McK 33, KWC 0)

184 – Rozell Baker (Cahokia, IL/Cahokia) was unmatched din the contest and won by default (McK 39, KWC 0)

197 – Logan Kvien (Mundelein, IL/Mundelein) defeated Ethan Rogers by fall at 5:48 (McK 45, KWC 0)

285 – Vincenzo Scaletta (Harwood Heights, IL/Ridgewood) defeated Brennan McElroy by fall at 1:14 (McK 51, KWC 0)

No.5 McKendree will open their Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) competition Saturday, Jan. 9 and Sunday, Jan. 10. McKendree will face No.4 Lindenwood and Maryville in the Robert F. Hyland Arena, in St. Charles, MO