CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The third-ranked Lander Wrestling team took down two top-25 teams on Friday afternoon to advance into the semifinal round of the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals inside the UNI-Dome on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa. The Bearcats started the day with a 38-8 win over the 20th-ranked Tiffin Dragons setting up a quarterfinal date with the seventh-ranked Nebraska-Kearney Lopers which saw the Bearcats prevail 20-13.

The two wins secure at least a top-four finish at the tournament, the best finish in program history.

#3 Lander 38, #20 Tiffin 8
James Joplin opened the match with a 7-2 decision but Tiffin respond back with a 17-1 tech fall to give the Dragons a 5-3 lead after two bouts. However, after that Lander rattled off five straight bonus point victories from Isham Peace, Zeth Brower, Jack Tangen, David Hunsberger, and Gage Bernall. Bernall's tech fall win was what clinched the win for the Blue and Gold.

Tiffin got back on the board at 184 with a 2-0 decision but a pin from Anthony Yacovetti and a Juan Edmond-Holmes win by forfiet gave Lander the 30-point win.

#3 Lander 20, #7 Nebraska-Kearney 13
Joplin and Kaden Kuenzi both earned decisions to give Lander a 6-0 lead early but the Lopers responded back with back to back decisions of their own to tie the match.

After Jack Tangen gave Lander a 9-6 lead with a sudden victory decision, David Hunsberger provided a much needed technical fall to give Lander five team points and extend the lead to 14-6. 

The Lopers did not go away quietly as they responded with a major decision at 174 and a decision at 184 to cut the Lander lead to 14-13 but Yacovetti and Edmond-Holmes each earned decisions over nationally-ranked opposition to secure Lander's berth in the semifinals.

The Bearcats will face the 17th-ranked Augustana Vikings of the NSIC for a berth in the NWCA National Duals Finals against either #1 Central Oklahoma or #6 St. Cloud State. The semifinal matches are set to go off at 11:00 AM Central time (12:00 PM Eastern).