Men's Wrestling Competes at Mo Valley Invite

Doane Wrestling took 10 competitors to the Missouri Valley Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Marshall, Missouri. The Tigers came away with 11 wins against a field that featured several ranked wrestlers.

The first day of competition started out hot for the Tigers at 125. Nathan Rizek was the first to the mat and he drew NAIA No. 15 Cristian Vasquez of Menlo. Rizek picked up his first win over a ranked wrestler, defeating Vasquez, 7-4. He would drop his next match but bounced back with a pin over Charles Easterling of Benedictine in 2:06. Rizek defeated Easterling earlier this year by pin as well. He dropped his final match in a high scoring affair, 16-12.

Hunter Bennett also competed at 125 and opened with a win over previously ranked Braxton Vest of Indiana Tech, 11-10. Bennett fell behind in the final period but rallied with a late takedown to tie the match and won on a riding time bonus point. After dropping a 3-2 decision, Bennett picked up a 2-1 win over Landon Smith of Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) with the deciding point coming on a riding time bonus. He would have a rubber-match with Brody Gee of Saint Mary (Kan.) in his fourth match of the day. The two met earlier this season in Wichita, splitting two meetings in the Friends Open. Gee was able to get the best of Bennett in the third meeting, a 3-1 decision.

Roberto Cordova and Russell Nickerson competed for Doane in the 133 bracket. The only win for the Tigers came as Cordova defeated Nickerson in the first consolation match, a 4-2 decision.

Benjamin Miller competed at 141 and went 2-2. After dropping his opening match by decision, he bounced back with a 17-1 tech fall win over Andy Rojas of Hastings. In his next match, he defeated Aundre Beatty of Marian by major decision, 19-8. His final match was a loss to No. 8 Bryce Nickel of Cumberlands (Ky.), 14-1.

Cooper Spaulding and Terungwa Unongo each collected a win in their respective brackets. Spaulding defeated Justin Mcenaney of Central Methodist, 7-3, at 165. Unongo defeated Trevor Stuyvenberg of Indiana Tech at 174, 8-1.

At 184, Cael Jordan drew two ranked opponents in his two matches. He dropped an 8-4 decision to No. 23 Alan Badley of Providence (Mont.) and an 11-2 major decision to No. 13 Coleman Bryant of Southeastern (Fla.).

Garrett Cornwell went 2-2 at 184. He topped Northwestern's Braeden Campbell, 5-1, before falling to No. 3 Sam Osho of Marian, 12-4. He came back with a 10-2 win over Malachi Dowdell of Simpson (Calif.) but lost his last match to No. 17 Karim Shakur of Missouri Valley, 10-6.

Next up for the Tigers will be the GPAC Duals #2 where Doane will face Jamestown, Dakota Wesleyan, and Morningside to close out the conference dual slate.