CEDAR FALLS, IOWA - The Adrian College men's wrestling team finished 23rd at the NWCA National Duals.
In the opening dual against Loras College, the Bulldogs battled hard but ultimately fell 28-10. Senior Adrian Rosas set the tone early with a dominant win by major decision at 125 pounds, putting Adrian on the board. Senior Tyler Davis followed suit with a decision win at 133 pounds to keep the momentum going. However, Loras would claim the next five bouts, with senior Blake Williams earning a hard-fought decision victory at 184 pounds. Despite strong performances, the Duhawks closed out the dual by taking the final two matches.
The second dual saw Adrian face Cornell College, where the Bulldogs faced a tough test. Sophomore Max Mader started strong with a win by decision at 125 pounds, but Cornell rallied, winning the next four matches to take control of the dual. Junior Aiden Smith stopped the momentum with a solid decision win at 157 pounds, but it wasn't enough as Cornell went on to secure a 32-6 victory.
Adrian would face RIT in the third dual. The Tigers came out firing, claiming the first three bouts, but Smith answered with a major decision victory at 157 pounds to get Adrian on the scoreboard. Senior Zach Platte followed with a decision win at 165 pounds to keep the Bulldogs in the fight. After RIT regained the lead, Williams brought the Bulldogs back into contention with a strong win at 185 pounds. Rosas, continuing his excellent weekend, scored another major decision win, but it was RIT who ultimately clinched the dual with a 24-16 win.
The Bulldogs had one more chance to finish strong in the seventh-place match against Centenary University. Rosas kept his flawless tournament going with another dominant win at 125 pounds, and while Centenary bounced back to win the next three matches, Smith turned the tide with a pinfall victory at 157 pounds, and Platte followed with a decision win at 165 pounds. Junior Spencer Vos then delivered a commanding tech fall at 174 pounds, and Williams added a quick pin at 185 pounds to keep the momentum rolling. Sophomore Daxton Looney kept the streak alive with a pin at 197 pounds, and Williams finished the dual with a forfeit, as Adrian surged to a 38-16 victory, securing a solid finish at the duals.
Adrian finished the NWCA National Duals with a 23rd place finish with a 1-3 record on the weekend.
The Bulldogs are back in action on Thursday, January 16th where they will travel to Alma College for a highly anticipated conference dual.
