FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The No. 3-ranked Indiana Tech wrestling team returned to action on Thursday afternoon at NWCA National Duals at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, defeating Cumberland, 32-9, and Midland, 31-9, and falling to No. 5-ranked Williams Baptist, 30-17. The Warriors also had six individuals place in the Nuway College Open - Mat Mayhem Championships.
Tech would open up the day against Cumberland with wins from
Sawyer Miller, (9-1 MD)
Erique Early (6-3 D) and
Thomas Garty (18-3 TF) to give the Warriors a 12-6 lead over the Phoenix after five matches. The Orange and Black would then take four of the last five matches, with
Mason Gaines,
Mitch Roadruck,
Scottie Sopko and
Tyler Moser earning victories via tech fall (16-0), pin (5:00), decision (3-1) and forfeit to take the 32-9 win.
Miller and Early would again give Tech the first lead of the bout against Williams Baptist with a 12-4 major decision and a 21-6 tech fall, while
Gaige Torres earned a 6-4 decision to give the Warriors a 12-0 lead after three bouts. The Eagles would turn the tables though, taking six of the next seven matches, with four of their victories coming from pins, to take the match, 30-17, and sending the Orange and Black to the consolation bracket.
The Orange and Black would then end the day in dominating fashion against Midland, dropping just two bouts in the Battle of the Warriors to win 31-9. Miller and Early would finish their day with perfect 3-0 records thanks to a 14-0 major decision and pin (2:34), respectively.
Jonathan Watkins would pick up a pin at 157-lbs. while Roadruck concluded his day with a 5-2 decision to improve to 3-0 in the duals.
In the Mat Mayhem Championships, Gaines took second at 165-lbs., Da'Vion Williams placed third at 141-lbs.,
Matthew Miller and Raham Johnson finished sixth at 141 and 157-lbs., respectively, and
Jake Weimer and
Hunter Gasper took seventh at 165 and 174-lbs., respectively.
Tech (7-4) returns to action on Friday as they take on No. 11-ranked Campbellsville in the second day of the NWCA National Duals.
