CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - After securing their best finish in program history at the NWCA National Duals on Friday, the third-ranked Lander Wrestling team dropped a 17-16 heartbreaker to the 17th-ranked Augustana Vikings before suffering a 24-16 setback at the hands of the #6 St. Cloud State Huskies on Saturday afternoon at the UNI-Dome.

#17 Augustana 17, #3 Lander 16

James Joplin was once again the tone setter as he took down returning national runner-up and current top ranked wrestler at 125 lbs in Jaxson Rohman, 6-0, to give Lander a 3-0 lead early.

After the Vikings responded back at 133, Isham Peace and Zeth Brower each took down nationally ranked foes to give Lander a 9-3 lead after four bouts.

Augustana answered at 157 before David Hunsberger appeared to give Lander some breathing room with a major decision at 165 to give Lander a 13-6 lead. However, the Vikings answered right back with a tech fall and two decisions to flip the scoreboard in their favor at 17-13. 

Juan Edmond-Holmes would scrap to a 12-11 win but the three team points from the decision left Lander one point short and ended the Bearcats run in the championship bracket.

#6 St. Cloud State 24, #3 Lander 16

The third-place match saw Lander take on the St. Cloud State Huskies, the team who has won this tournament five of the last six years.

After Joplin earned a sudden victory decision at 125, the Huskies answered back with a tech fall at 133 to give them a 5-3 lead.

Peace once again defeated a ranked opponent in #12 Alyeus Craig to give Lander the lead back at 6-5 but St. Cloud would win five of the next six bouts, including three by bonus point margins, to flip the scoreboard completley in their favor. The Bearcat that run was Hunsberger as he earned a 5-3 decision over #7 Anthony Herrera but St. Cloud took a 24-9 lead heading into the last two weight classes, clinching the win.

Anthony Yacovetti and Juan Edmond-Holmes each earned impressive victories at 197 and 285, including Yacovetti taking down the #3 ranked wrestler at 197 lbs in Dominic Murphy but that plus Edmond-Holmes major decision was too little too late as Lander fell 24-16.

The Bearcats will enter back into Conference Carolinas action on Thursday, January 18th as they face Bluefield State for the first time ever before heading up north to take part in the Shippensburg Duals where Lander will face Mercyhurst, Gannon, Millersville, and Pitt-Johnstown on January 20th.