IT v CU | IT v OKC | IT v GV | IT v WP
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The seventh-ranked Indiana Tech wrestling team concluded a run of 11 ranked teams in 11 matches, going 2-2 at the Desert Duals at the Flamingo Casino/Hotel. The Warriors faced three teams in the top-10, defeating No. 6 Concordia (Neb.) and Warner Pacific (Ore.) who is receiving votes while falling to No. 7 Oklahoma City and top-ranked Grand View.

The Tech grapplers opened the day with an impressive 30-12 win over the sixth-ranked Bulldogs.  Freshman Erique Early, who hasn't lost since Dec. 5 against Montana St.-Northern, continued his winning ways at 125-pounds as he won 3-1 in sudden victory to put the Warriors up 3-0. Concordia picked up a pair of decisions at 133 and 141 pound to take a 6-3 lead, but the Orange and Black followed with six straight victories for the win. Mitch Roadruck (157) and No. 8 Jacob Johnson (165) earned major decisions while Brandon Sunday (184) and Darryl Grayson (197) both upset ranked opponents via a pair of falls to seal the win.

Early earned his biggest win of the season against the seventh-ranked Stars of Oklahoma City, earning a 4-3 decision over No. 3 Aaron LaFarge, but he was one of just three Warriors to get a win in the 31-9 loss. Seventh-ranked Brett Yarbrough won his match at 133-pounds, a 10-6 decision and Grayson, who's ranked eighth at 184-pounds, earned a win over his seventh-ranked opponent, a 10-3 fall to round out the Warriors scoring.

The biggest dual of the season to-date came in the third dual of the afternoon for Tech as they squared off against three-time defending national champion Grand View, falling 34-9 to the Vikings. Early won his match at 125-pounds by forfeit, and second-ranked Mitchell Pawlak continued his solid season with a 4-0 decision at 133 to earn the team's nine points. A pair of forfeits at the final two weights, due to unavailability of wrestlers at that weight, accounted for the final margin.

The Orange and Black were able to bookend the day with a 33-15 victory over the Warner Pacific Knights. Early finished 4-0 with a fall at 4:22 to earn six points and Pawlak followed with a 3-2 decision to make it 9- Warriors. The Knights got wins at 141 and 157 pounds with Roadruck registering a fall at 149 to offset the losses. Johnson, Antonio Rodriquez (174) and Grayson all won their matches, with Johnson recording a fall to help solidify the win.

Tech will take a break for the holidays before returning to the mats on Saturday, Jan. 3 when they travel to Whiting, Ind. to take part in the Calumet College St. Joe/Muskegon Duals hosted by CCSJ.

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