#6 Wrestling Secures Top-Four Finish on Day One of NWCA National Duals

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The sixth-ranked Lander Wrestling team earned first-ever program wins over #19 UMary and #13 St. Cloud State on Friday inside the UNI-Dome, advancing to the semifinals of the NWCA National Duals and securing a top-four finish for the Bearcats.

The result ties Lander's best finish in program history at the event, as the Bearcats will face top-ranked Central Oklahoma on Saturday morning.

Lander improves to 13-0 on the season, extending a program-best start and pushing its winning streak to 19 matches, the second-longest in program history. The victories over UMary and St. Cloud State mark the 16th and 17th wins over ranked opponents in program history, with the Huskies victory standing as the ninth win over a top-15 team.

First Round: #6 Lander 21, #19 UMary 19

The Bearcats faced early adversity as the Marauders jumped out to a 16-3 lead after five matches. Lander's lone win in the opening half came at 149, where #4 Isham Peace scored a takedown with just over 1:15 remaining in sudden victory to earn a 4-1 decision.

That win proved pivotal, as Lander closed the dual by winning four of the final five bouts.

At 165, #1 David Hunsberger ignited the rally with a 22-4 technical fall, cutting the deficit to 16-7. #15 Maxwell Kiel followed with a 15-2 major decision, narrowly missing a tech fall of his own, before #11 Dylan Kohn added a 10-3 decision at 184 to pull Lander within one at 16-15.

The turning point came at 197, where #14 Marvelous Rutledge flipped the match both figuratively and literally, securing a pin to give Lander a 21-15 lead heading into the final bout.

UMary earned a decision at heavyweight, but it was not enough, as Lander completed a 13-point comeback, tying the largest rally in program history.

Quarterfinal: #6 Lander 22, #13 St. Cloud State 9

Lander wasted no time in avenging the 2024 National Duals loss to the Huskies, jumping out to a 13-0 lead after four bouts.

#9 Kaden Kuenzi opened with a 5-3 decision at 125 before #1 Elijah Lusk added a 4-1 win at 141. #4 Isham Peace followed with a 5-0 decision, and #6 James Joplin capped the opening stretch with a 12-3 major decision at 133.

The teams traded wins at 157 and 165, with Hunsberger picking up his second victory of the day, using a late reversal to seal the decision.

St. Cloud State attempted a late push with wins at 174 and 184, but Rutledge and #13 Isaac Sheeren closed the door with back-to-back victories to send Lander to the semifinals of National Duals for the second time in program history.

Action resumes Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. CT as #6 Lander faces #1 Central Oklahoma in the semifinals. The Bearcats will then take on either Wisconsin–Parkside or Nebraska–Kearney later in the afternoon.

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Players Mentioned

David Hunsberger: 165; Senior; 157

James Joplin: 133; Graduate Student; 125

Kaden Kuenzi: 125; Graduate Student; 125

Elijah Lusk: 141; Graduate Student; 141

Isham Peace: 149; Redshirt Senior; 149

Marvelous Rutledge: 197; Senior; 197

Isaac Sheeren: 285; Sophomore; 285

Maxwell Kiel: 174; Graduate Student; 174

Dylan Kohn: 184; Graduate Student; 184

Players Mentioned

David Hunsberger
: Senior; 157
: 165

James Joplin
: Graduate Student; 125
: 133

Kaden Kuenzi
: Graduate Student; 125
: 125

Elijah Lusk
: Graduate Student; 141
: 141

Isham Peace
: Redshirt Senior; 149
: 149

Marvelous Rutledge
: Senior; 197
: 197

Isaac Sheeren
: Sophomore; 285
: 285

Maxwell Kiel
: Graduate Student; 174
: 174

Dylan Kohn
: Graduate Student; 184
: 184