Cedar Falls, IA – The #4 UC Men's Wrestling team put together some strong performances against three ranked opponents on day one of the NWCA National Duals. The Patriots had three wrestlers go undefeated in #8 Gage Hudson (2-0), #7 Thomas Ketchen-Carter (2-0), and #7 O'Brian Black (2-0). 

#4 Cumberlands Defeats #14 Montana State-Northern, 23-18 

In the first dual of the day, the Patriots squeaked by Montana State-Northern in what was a tightly contested match. #7 Chandlar Akins took the first win of the day in the 133-weight class after tallying a 13-5 major decision over Kade Willis (Montana State-Northern). The graduate student had a reversal in the first period, a 4-point nearfall and reversal in the second, along with a 2-point nearfall, two penalties, and riding time in the third. Competing in the 141-weight class, #8 Gage Hudson notched a fall at the 4:05 mark against Caleb Morales (Montana State-Northern). #7 O'Brian Black battled for a 4-1 sudden-death victory over #11 Travis Waldner (Montana State-Northern) in the 165-weight class. He recorded an escape in the second and a 3-point takedown in the overtime period to take the match. #7 Thomas Ketchen-Carter added four more points for the Pats in the 184-weight class with a 12-3 major decision victory against #6 Rylin Burns (Montana State-Northern). The senior marked three 3-point takedowns and two escapes. UC trailed going into the final match, but Austin Silva was able to notch a fall at the 3:30 mark over #12 Shane Mattson in the 285-weight class to give the Patriots a thrilling win.  

#4 Cumberlands Falls to #3 Southeastern, 22-14 

The Patriots dropped their next match to Southeastern, UC held a record of 4-6. #12 Matteo Vargo got the action started for the Pats in the 125-weight class with a 17-7 major decision win over Brodie Christmas (Southeastern). The junior recorded 15 points in the first period with two 4-point nearfalls, two 3-point takedowns, and a penalty. Vargo was able to tack on two more points in the match on two escapes. #8 Hudson followed with a major decision win of his own in the 141-weight class over Drew Jones (Southeastern), 12-0. He tallied three 3-point takedowns, a 2-point nearfall, and an escape. For the 165-weight class, #7 Black defeated #3 Trace Braun (Southeastern) with an escape and penalty in the second period and two 3-point takedowns in third, resulting in an 8-7 decision. Earning the last three points for the Pats was #7 Ketchen-Carter in the 184-weight class over Jeffrey Geller (Southeastern) by a 3-0 decision with a 3-point takedown.  

#4 Cumberlands Drops Final Match to #17 Missouri Valley, 26-15 

UC returned to the mat for their third dual of the day and posted a 4-5 record in the loss to Missouri Valley. #12 Vargo put the Pats on the board in the 125-weight class with a win over #24 Robert Albert (Missouri Valley) in a 6-5 decision, scoring on a 3-point takedown and three escapes. In the 133-weight class, #7 Akins secured a 6-2 decision against #17 Haden Hernandez (Missouri Valley) with a 3-point takedown, reversal, and riding time. Marc Le Gaspe was able to give the Pats six points in the 157-weight class after notching a fall of 2:40 over Olson Anderson (Missouri Valley). In the 184-weight class, TJ Huber defeated Drake Tipton (Missouri Valley) in a 2-0 decision with an escape and riding time.  

Cumberlands will return for day two of the NWCA National Duals, facing #9 Southern Oregon. The dual is set to begin at noon ET at the Uni-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  

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