DES MOINES, Iowa – Campbellsville University men's wrestling recorded its 20th dual victory of the season Sunday to place fifth at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) NAIA National Duals. It is the fourth-straight year for CU to place in the Top 5 at National Duals.
"Those were the top teams in our division and only two teams (Grand View and Campbellsville) finished with four wins. To finish Top 5 for four years in a row, no other NAIA team can say that. We are happy to keep that streak going," said CU coach Franky James. "We were not shooting for fifth, but overall it was a good weekend for us. I'm proud of how our guys fought back after a tough loss to Great Falls."
CU wrestled back Sunday to beat Indiana Tech, 22-19, and Missouri Valley College, 29-18, and posted its highest possible finish after dropping its quarterfinal dual Saturday to No. 4 University of Great Falls.
Great Falls went on to finish fourth after losing to first-place Grand View University in the semifinals and being upset by Cumberland University, 20-18, in the third-place match. Lindsey Wilson College was runner-up, beating Cumberland in the semifinals and falling to Grand View, 32-6, in the finals.
CU started the day with an early morning bought with NAIA East Region foe Indian Tech. The Warriors took a 4-3 lead after Justin Brooks beat an injured Tyler Alsip by major decision at 133 pounds. Colby Rinehart and Brandon Westerman each recorded decisions at 141 and 149 pounds to regain CU's lead, which was then strengthened by a tech fall at 157 pounds by Shawn McGhee.
Down 14-4 at the mid-way point, Tech put points on the board with a 10-8 decision by Kafuba Donzon over Treyvontay Rhodes. While CU bounced back with a decision by Travis McIntosh at 174, Taylor Delong pinned Kyle Sweedman late in the first period to pull the Warriors within five points, 17-12, with two weights remaining. Nate Knauf clinched the Tigers' victory with a quick pin of Kelvin Jordan Jr. at 197 pounds. Tech's Andre Dunn pinned Justin McDaniel at heavyweight to round out the Warriors' scoring.
Indiana tech went on to finish seventh with a 24-22 win over Montana State Northern.
In the afternoon place match, Campbellsville used pins by Steiner (125 pounds) and Westerman (141) to claim a 12-3 advantage early. McGhee added a tech fall at 157 pounds to maintain CU's 11-point cushion after Rinehart lost at 149. Rhodes added a pin at 165, which gave the Tigers a 23-6 lead and all but sealed the dual for CU. Campbellsville gained six more points by forfeit at 184 pounds to lock up fifth-place with a 29-9 lead. MVC closed the dual with a pin at 197 and win by decision at heavyweight to pull back within 11.
Campbellsville (20-4) will return to duals action Friday, Jan. 17 at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn. The dual is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CST.
Toria Alsip contributed to this story.
Campbellsville 22, Indiana Tech 19
125: Cody Steiner (CU) over Kristopher McKinley (IT), SV 5-3
133: Justin Brooks (IT) over Tyler Alsip (CU), Maj. Dec. 13-0
141: Colby Rinehart (CU) over Travis Barroquillo (IT), Dec. 7-5
149: Brandon Westerman (CU) over Mitch Roadruck (IT), Dec. 8-5
157: Shawn McGhee (CU) over Chase Hack (IT), Tech Fall 16-0
165: Kafuba Donzon (IT) over Treyvontay Rhodes (CU), Dec. 10-8
174: Travis McIntosh (CU) over LJ Grayson (IT), Dec. 8-6
184: Taylor Delong (IT) over Kyle Sweedman (CU), Fall 2:45
197: Nate Knauf (CU) over Kelvin Jordan Jr. (IT), Fall 0:49
285: Andre Dunn (IT) over Justin McDaniel (CU), Fall 4:40
Campbellsville 29, Missouri Valley 18
125: Cody Steiner (CU) over Ryan Stearns (MVC), Fall 4:22
133: Todd Brackett (MVC) over Andrew Ferguson (CU), Dec. 6-4
141: Brandon Westerman (CU) over Brian Bitney (MVC), Fall 2:57
149: Jake Ekster (MVC) over Colby Rinehart (CU), Dec. 5-2
157: Shawn McGhee (CU) over Jared Sterling (MVC), Tech Fall 17-0
165: Treyvontay Rhodes (CU) over Nico Martinez (MVC), Fall 4:42
174: Riley Boomer (MVC) over Marvin Lawrence (CU), Dec. 9-6
184: Kyle Sweedman (CU) won by forfeit
197: Josh Manu (MVC) over Nate Knauf (CU), Fall 3:38
285: Daniel Muellar (MVC) over Justin McDaniel (CU), Dec. 4-2
