LOUISVILLE, KY. – The No. 5 Lander wrestling team went 2-1 at the NWCA National Duals to advance to the second day of competition after defeating No. 14 Fort Hays State and No. 12 McKendree while falling to No. 4 West Liberty on Friday.

No. 5 Lander (34) – No. t14 Fort Hays (9)

The Bearcats wasted no time jumping in front against the Tigers as James Joplin and Elijah Lusk both recorded pins to give Lander an early 12-0 edge.

Zeth Brower would keep the win streak going with a 16-1 tech fall, his fifth of the season, while Randy Myers recorded a spotless 3-0 win by decision to make it 20-0 for Lander.

Fort Hays would score a win by decision in the next match before David Hunsberger ran circles around his opponent, recording an 18-3 tech fall to get the points following once again for Lander.

Lander and Fort Hays would trade weight classes for the rest of the match, as Logan Hall recorded an 8-7 win by decision at 184 and Juan Edmond-Holmes notched his sixth pin of the season at 285 to conclude the dual.

 No. 5 Lander (16) – No. 4 West Liberty (17)

The Bearcats and Hilltoppers met for the second time this season with sparks flying once again.

West Liberty struck first in a close 7-4 win by decision at 125 and a 3-1 sudden victory win at 133 before Brower got Lander going with a 1-0 win by decision for his second win of the day.

The Hilltoppers took wins at 149 and 157 to increase their lead to 13-0 before a 7-6 victory by Hunsberger started a winning streak for the Bearcats. Jack Bond would keep things going for the Blue and Gold with a 3-1 victory before Hall run over his opponent with a 10-2 major decision to tie the contest at 13-13 before Anthony Yacovetti recorded a 7-6 win by decision to give Lander a 16-13 edge, but the Hilltopper's would take the final weight class and win by tiebreaker.

No. 5 Lander (25) – No. t12 McKendree (12)

Battling in the consolation bracket, Lander would begin its dual with McKendree with three straight wins. Joplin would pick up his second win of the day after recording a 3-2 win by decision while Lusk would earn his second pin of the day to put Lander ahead 9-0. Brower earned his third win with a 5-2 win by decision before McKendree scored its first points with wins at 149 and 157 to make it a 12-9 contest.

The Bearcats would counter with a 15-4 major decision by Hunsberger before McKendree would score a win by decision in the next match.

Lander took the final three weight classes as Hall earned his third win of the day with a 3-2 win before Yacovetti and Grayson Latham also won by decision.

Lander starts the second day of the NWCA National Duals with No. t12 Indianapolis at 9 am on Saturday while concluding the day with either No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney or No. t9 Upper Iowa

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