On the opening day of matches at the NWCA National Duals, the Maryville wrestling team posted a 3-2 record in Louisville, Ky. Maryville defeated two ranked teams but lost to the top two teams in Division II. The Saints edged No. 14 Mercyhurst 17-16 in the championship bracket but lost to No. 1 St. Cloud State 30-4. In the consolation draw, Maryville beat Seton Hill 33-6 and had a 22-18 win versus No. 10 Newberry. In the final match Friday, the Saints squared off against second-ranked Pitt-Johnstown but were eliminated with a 37-3 defeat.
Tyler Kreith notched a 9-1 major at 125 to start the day against Mercyhurst. Tyler Stegall (149) posted a 9-2 decision before Tanner Sparks (157) recorded another major with an 11-2 victory. Matt Pratt (174) and Bailey Kelly (184) closed out the win with 6-4 and 11-4 decisions, respectively. Taking on the top seed in DII, Kreith again had a 10-1 major versus St. Cloud State. However, that would be the only win for the Saints.
In the consolation bracket, the Saints rolled over Seton Hill. Kreith again had a win to start the match, and Alex Waggoner picked up an 11-9 win at 133. In the 141 division, Kade Smith recorded a fall in 3:55, while Stegall had an 11-6 win. Sparks shut out his 157 foe 5-0. Bret Heil grinded out a 9-8 decision at 174, while Kelly pinned his opponent at the five-minute mark. John Anderson claimed a forfeit win at 197 to close out the match.
Against Newberry, Kreith improved to 4-0 on the day with a 5-1 victory, and Waggoner tacked on a 3-2 decision. Stegall had an 8-0 major at 149, while Sparks had a 6-3 win at 157. Conner Villarmia notched an important 17-0 tech fall in the 165 class. Anderson had a crucial 10-2 major at 197 to clinch the win for the Saints. Maryville was looking to advance to the final day of the tournament but drew a tough assignment against the No. 2 team in the nation, Pitt-Johnstown. Waggoner was the only Saint to pick up a win as he notched an SV-2 decision by a 2-1 count.
The Saints will next be in action in two locations next weekend. A small squad will be at the Missouri Valley Invitational Jan. 17-18, and the Saints also have a GLVC dual at Bellarmine Saturday, Jan. 18.
