Cedar Falls, IA – The #7 UC Men's Wrestling team went 2-1 on the first day of the NWCA National Duals at the Uni-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Patriots had an overall record 18-12, with Gage Hudson (3-0), #5 Bryce Nickel (2-0), and #7 Austin Franco (2-0) going undefeated.
 
#7 Cumberlands Falls to #11 Indiana Tech, 22-16
In the first dual of the day, the Patriots held a record of 4-6. #7 Austin Franco took the first win of the day in the 125-weight class with a 4-2 decision from a 3-point takedown and an escape, over #18 Allen Calderon (Indiana Tech). Competing in the 141-weight class, Gage Hudson notched a fall at the 2:46 mark against Conner Kimbrough (Indiana Tech). #5 Bryce Nickel battled for a 16-5 decision over Mike Loney (Indiana Tech) in the 149-weight class. He recorded two 3-point takedowns and stalling in the first period, an escape and two 3-point takedowns in the second, followed by another 3-point takedown in the third. Earning the last three points for the Pats was Charlie Friedenreich in the 174-weight class over #21 Landon Buchanan (Indiana Tech). The graduate student had a 3-point takedown and an escape, securing a 4-1 decision.
 
#7 Cumberlands Soars Past Graceland (RV), 36-9
UC returned to the mat and fought to defeat the Yellowjackets with a record of 8-2. In the 125-weight class, #16 Adonis Boyd collected two 3-point takedowns and an escape to win by a 7-2 decision against #24 Clemente Delgado (Graceland). Chandlar Akins pinned Caden Lopez at 1:54 to score 6 points for the Pats in the 133 weight-class. Hudson followed in the 141-weight class, notching a fall at 2:57 over Ryan Anderson (Graceland). For the third pin in a row, #2 Jace Luchau recorded a fall against Jaden Machado (Graceland) in the 149-weight class, at the 0:22 mark. For the 165-weight class, Weston Melvin defeated Jett Nelson (Graceland) with a 3-point takedown in the first period and an escape in the third, resulting in a 5-2 decision. #18 Sherman Dixon notched the fourth fall of the dual at 3:28 over #25 Joseph Teguia (Graceland) in the 184-weight class. Wylie Dunn competed last in the 285-weight class, with a 3-0 decision against Anthony Yancey (Graceland) and securing the win for the Patriots.
 
#7 Cumberlands Fights with Grit Against #10 Ottawa, 26-16
The Patriots had a competitive third dual of the day and went 6-4 against the Braves. #7 Franco tallied an 11-2 major decision over Benajmin Pope. The senior had two 3-point takedowns in the first period, one 3-point takedown in the second, along with stalling in the third. In the 133-weight class, Akins recorded a 3-point takedown and an escape with stalling to defeat ranked opponent #23 Braden Ledford (Ottawa) in a 4-1 decision. Graduate student, Hudson, won his third matchup of the day by pinning Angelo Reyes (Ottawa) at 2:43, in the 141-weight class. Collecting three 3-point takedowns and riding time, #5 Nickel won for the 149-weight class in a 10-6 decision over Irish Furthmyre (Ottawa). #11 O'Brian Black was successful in the 165-weight class against #20 Benjamin Mitchell (Ottawa), notching six 3-point takedowns. 285 wrestler, Dunn, contributed to UC's success by tallying a fall over Isaac Gibson, at the 3:34 mark.

Cumberlands will return for day two of the NWCA National Duals, facing MSC opponent #6 Campbellsville. Duals will begin at 10 a.m. ET at the Uni-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

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