GREENWOOD – For the first time in program history, the No. 5 Lander wrestling team will throw down at the NWCA Div. II National Duals.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL DUALS
The NWCA features the top 16 teams from the previous season, with 14 of the 16 teams in the field currently ranked in the top 25, including the top five.
All first-round matches are at 10 am on Friday, followed by quarterfinal and opening consolation bouts at 12 pm with another round of consolations at 4 p.m.
The tournament resumes Saturday with the consolation semifinals at 8 a.m. and the championship semifinals at 11 a.m. Fifth- and seventh-place matches will be at 1 pm, followed by first- and third-place bouts at 3 pm.
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THESE BEARCATS?
Lander is currently ranked No. 5 in the latest NWCA rankings after being tied for fourth in the previous rankings. The Bearcats are in their fourth season as a program and have made appearances in the Div. II National Championships the last two seasons.
The Bearcats currently feature five wrestlers ranked in the top 12 of the NWCA Div. II individual rankings with James Joplin, Elijah Lusk, Zeth Brower, Logan Hall and Juan Edmond-Holmes representing the Blue and Gold.
Brower, who is the defending national champion at 141, has been ranked No.1 for the entire season.
SUCCESS THIS SEASON
Lander has been on a tear this season, going 8-1 overall and sporting a 3-0 SACC record. The only loss so far this season came against now No. 4 West Liberty during the Carolina Clash.
The Bearcats feature six wrestlers with 11 or more wins this season as Brower, Hall, Lusk, David Hunsberger, Jack Bond and Anthony Yacovetti posting a combined 83-16 record. Brower is currently 16-0 this season with four pins and four tech falls.
Zeth Brower, 16-0
Logan Hall, 16-2
Elijah Lusk, 15-4
David Hunsberger, 14-3
Jack Bond, 11-5
Anthony Yacovetti, 11-2
The Bearcats most recently took part in the 43rd Midwest Classic at the University of Indianapolis from December 17 through December 18. Lander took third place at the Midwest Classic after featuring only nine wrestlers with three of them normally not starters.
Lander finished in third place with four top-four finishes that included Brower finishing first at 141.
Joplin and Hall both finished third and Lusk took fourth.
GET READY, GET SET, GET TO KNOW YOUR FOE
Lander will begin the National Duals with a battle against No. 14 Fort Hays State at 10 am on Friday. The Tigers are currently 0-3 in duals and recently had an 11th-place finish at the Midwest Classic. Fort Hays currently has two wrestlers nationally ranked with Cade Lindsey (No. 6 – 174) and Tereus Henry (No. 3 – 197) representing the Tigers.
After Fort Hays, Lander will face either No. 4 West Liberty or No. 16 Colorado Mesa depending on the result against Fort Hays.
WHAT'S NEXT
After competing in the NWCA National Duals, Lander will return to conference action with a trip to Gaffney, S.C., to face Limestone on January 13.
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