SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Campbellsville University wrestling matched its best finish in program history during the final day of the NWCA/NAIA Cliff Keen National Duals Sunday.

The Tigers went 2-0 Saturday to advance to the national semifinals but dropped both matches Sunday to finish fourth for the second time in three years.
 

To start the day, eighth-ranked Tyler Alsip posted a major decision victory at 133 pounds to give the fifth-ranked Tigers a 4-3 lead over No. 1 Grand View University. The defending champs did not drop another match though en route to a 32-4 semifinal win. Brandon Westerman and Allen Scruggs both fell short in overtime at 141 and 197 pounds, while top-ranked 157-pounder rallied back from an early takedown by No. 6 Chad Lowman to even the score, 2-2, but Lowman used 1:24 of riding time for the upset. .

Campbellsville charged out to an 18-3 lead in the third-place dual against No. 3 University of Great Falls. Jarvis Elam and No. 7 Chris Teague each recorded decisions over higher-ranked opponents at 125 and 149 pounds. CU picked up a forfeit win at 133 pounds and Young pinned second-ranked Ryan Leonard.

Great Falls' only points through the first five weights was at 141 pounds, a 5-1 decision by No. 1 Myles Mazurkiewicz over Westerman, ranked eighth. The Vikings did not lose again. With a pin at 165 pounds, Great Falls pulled within three points with decisions at 165 and 174. UGF went on to pick up six points in each of the last two matches after Scruggs was disqualified at 197 and Terrell Moore was pinned at 285.

"To be up 18-3 on Great Falls and lose five matches in a row was not a good feeling. We wanted third and finish with a win, but another Top 4 finish fells good," said CU head coach Franky James. "I know this team will keep working and keep improving."

Grand View went on to beat Southern Oregon University to win the duals championship.

CU (7-2) will travel to the Cumberland University Open on Jan. 19 before returning to duals action on the road Jan. 25 in a tri-meet at Southern Illinois-Evansville.

RESULTS