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FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech wrestling team, led by a 4-0 day by
Erique Early, swept all four matches at the Warrior Duals in the Warrior Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon. The duals featured five other schools, four of whom are currently ranked or receiving votes in the coaches' poll. The Warriors opened against Missouri Baptist, who is receiving votes, before facing No. 11 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.), No. 16 Baker and fourth-ranked Great Falls (Mont.). The only team Tech didn't see was St. Catharine (Ky.).
Tech began the day with an impressive 35-6 victory over the Spartans of Missouri Baptist, putting together two stretches of four straight wins.
Erique Early opened the match with a 16-4 major decision to earn four team points. Seventh-ranked
Brett Yarbrough got the better of No. 13 Aaron Hane at 133, winning 5-4 to earn three more team points.
Matthew Miller, ranked No. 11 at 141, made quick work of his opponent, winning via fall in 1:09 to make it 13-0 Warriors.
Jacob Johnson (165) and
Brandon Sunday (197) also earned falls for the Orange and Black to help seal the victory.
In their second dual of the day, the Warriors clipped the Eagles, 28-11 led by three falls. Early got the match started with a 7-4 decision at 125 before Yarbrough registered his first fall of the day at 2:16 for a 9-0 lead. The Eagles won the next three matches via decision but Johnson quickly reversed the team's fortunes with a fall at 6:59 to give Tech the 15-9 advantage. After trading decisions at 174 and 184, the Warriors got a fall at 23 seconds from Sunday and a major decision (10-2) from
Kegan Clark-Sanchez at 285 to move to 2-0.
It was a hotly contested third dual between Tech and the Wildcats of Baker, but the Warriors eventually pulled out the 22-12 win. Early won the first match again, a 10-4 decision, before giving way to the showcase match; No. 1 Bryce Shoemaker vs. No. 2
Mitchell Pawlak did battle at 133-pounds. The Warriors Pawlak earned the win, 1-0, thanks to a riding time advantage. Miller (141) and
Mitch Roadruck (149) followed with decisions of their own to make it 12-0 Tech. A pair of major decisions followed by a Baker win at 174 made it 16-7 Tech. Sunday and Grayson followed with victories to seal the win, 22-12.
In the match of the day, the Warriors upended the Argonauts for the second time this season, 24-19. Early finished off his impressive day with an 8-4 decision at 125 then Pawlak put an exclamation point on his afternoon with a fall to make it 9-0 Tech. A pair of victories for the Argos cut the lead to two, 9-7, but Garty earned an 8-3 decision at 157 and Johnson earned a fall at 165 to push the lead back to 11, 18-7. Great Falls registered two more decisions to cut the lead back to five, but
Darryl Grayson sealed the win with a fall at 197 to give the Warriors a 24-19 win.
The Warriors return to action on Saturday, Dec. 20 when they travel to Las Vegas, Nev. for the Dessert Duals at the Flamingo Casio/Hotel. Tech opens the event at 8 a.m. against No. Concordia (Neb.) followed by duals with No. 7 Oklahoma City, top-ranked Grand View and Warner Pacific (Ore.) who is currently receiving votes.
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