SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Campbellsville University went 2-0 Saturday on the first day of the NWCA/NAIA Cliff Keen National Duals, advancing to the national semifinals for the second time in three seasons. The Tigers beat Missouri Valley University, 27-15, to start the day and then edged No. 4 Montana State University Northern, 22-19, in the quarterfinals.

The Tigers, ranked fifth in the NAIA, will face No. 1 Grand View University (Iowa) in the semifinals Sunday at 12 p.m. EST in the Prairie Capitol Convention Center.

"They were both tough duals. It was a terrible draw for us. Missouri Valley was ranked fifth before falling out of the poll this week. Missouri Valley is a good dual team, they don't give up," said Franky James, CU head coach. "We didn't wrestle very well, but we found a way to win, which was nice. We still haven't wrestled our best yet. Hopefully we'll wrestle better tomorrow. We're going to have to, to beat Grand View."

The Tigers competed with five freshmen Saturday: Robert Boston (125), Shawn McGhee (157 and 165), Kyle Terry (149), Michael Johnson (174), Nate Knauff (184). The five new Tigers were 4-3 on the day against tough competition, helping to score 13 of CU's team points.

Brandon Westerman and Allen Scruggs were the only Tigers to go 2-0 Saturday, combining for 19 of CU's team points.

Westerman, ranked No. 8 at 141 pounds, was the first Tiger to go 2-0 on the day, recording 10 team points. Against MSU-Northern, Westerman met No. 9 Hunter Azure in a battle of four-time state champions from Georgia and Montana. Westerman won the battle with a pin in the third period to tie the dual, 6-6.

Scruggs, ranked No. 2 at 197 pounds, clinched the Tigers' victory in both duals. He was leading a match against fifth-ranked Josh Manu of Missouri Valley before Manu was disqualified for throwing a punch, giving the Tigers six points. Against Montana State Northern, CU was trailing 19-13, knowing that they would win six points from a forfeit at heavyweight. Scruggs won a 9-3 decision over No. 8 Toby Cheff to send the Tigers to the semifinals.

Conor Young, ranked No. 1 at 157 pounds, collected a pin against Missouri Valley's Nico Martinez, ranked No. 14. James decided to move Young up to 165 to against MSU-Northern to face top-ranked Ethan Hinebuach, hoping to give a competitive match, but was pinned midway through the second period.

"We were going for the outstanding wrestling award, and was hoping to avoid a pin. I don't remember him ever getting pinned in four years," James said. "We got pinned, but whoever we put out there probably would have gotten pinned."

On Sunday, Campbellsville (7-0) will face Grand View for the third time in program history at national duals at 12 p.m. ET. The series is tied 1-1. The Tigers will close the tournament at 4 p.m. EST for either the championship or third place against the winner or loser of the semifinal  between Great Falls and Southern Oregon.

RESULTS