Men's Wrestling Takes Third at National Duals

Doane Men's Wrestling went into Saturday in search of another trophy at the NWCA Multi-Division National Duals as they took on NAIA No. 1 Grand View (Iowa) in the Semifinal Round. The Vikings held the Tigers scoreless in a 36-0 decision. The Tigers rebounded in the Third Place match as they ran away from NAIA No. 3 Southeastern (Fla.) for a 24-11 victory to finish third for the second straight year.

After a busy first day of action on Friday, the Tigers rested a couple of their ranked wrestlers in the match with Grand View to open Saturday's action. Doane may not have won a match against the Vikings but there were several close matches.

In the first match at 125, NAIA No. 4 Daniel Vargas took on NAIA No. 1 and defending national champion Esco Walker. The difference in the match was a first period takedown for Walker as he edged out Vargas, 3-2. Devin Avedissian, ranked No. 13, dropped a 10-0 decision to No. 1 Carson Taylor in the 133 match. Ben Miller lost 16-1 to No. 7 Shea Ruffridge at 141.

Quentyn Frank was edged out at 149 by Jack Latimer, 4-2. Tristan Zamilpa, ranked No. 10 at 149, took on No. 2 Israel Casarez, the defending national champion at 157, and was downed 7-2. Benjamin Dobler, ranked No. 17, dropped his match at 165 to Tanner Abbas, 3-1. Michael Scarponi, ranked No. 20, lost 9-2 to Alex Reynolds at 174.

In the 184 match, Cael Jordan lost to No. 2 Ben Lee, last year's national runner-up. Lee won by tech fall, 15-0. Garrett Cornwell took on No. 4 Garavous Kouekabakilaho and lost 12-5 in the 197 match. Brandon Antesberger, ranked No. 9, faced off with No. 1 Greg Hagan, a two-time national runner-up at 285, and lost 11-1.

Doane was nearly at full strength in their final match as they battled Southeastern for Third Place. The Tigers won seven of the first eight matches to jump out early.

The match opened with Vargas defeating No. 8 Esau Bazilme, 9-2, at 125. Avedissian won by tech fall at 133 over Tanner Kukertz, 18-3. 

Baagii Boldmaa, ranked No. 1, faced off against No. 3 Parker Dobrocky in the 141 match. Boldmaa posted his third Top 10 win on the weekend by posting a 9-7 decision. Nate Lendt, ranked No. 12 at 149, defeated Chris Kelly, 10-2. Zamilpa dropped his match at 157 to No. 10 Trace Braun, 6-2.

Dobler defeated Salvador Silva, ranked No. 3 at 157, in the 165 bout by a 6-3 decision. The clinching match for the Tigers came at 174 in an overtime decision. Chinges Tsermaa, ranked No. 5, picked up a takedown in overtime to defeat No. 4 Stephen Kelle, 8-6.

Scarponi won his match at 184, defeating Christian Just, 8-3. Southeastern took the final two matches behind two of their top wrestlers. Garrett Cornwell fell to No. 8 Trillyon Fils-Aime, 4-1, in the 197 match. At heavyweight, Antesberger lost to defending national champion and current No. 3, Gage Braun, by tech fall, 26-10.

Doane will return to conference dual action on Friday, January 13, as they travel to Seward to take on Concordia at 7 PM.