Wrestling Kicks off NWCA Duals

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA - CUW wrestling competed in the first two of its four duals at the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals on Friday, battling the Luther Norse and Marymount Saints in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Junior Devin Gore (Plymouth, Wis.) opened the event for the Falcons, picking up a close 5-4 decision at 126 pounds to put Concordia on the board against Luther.

The Norse avenged the early points by picking up a pair of fall victories in the ensuing matches, surging to a nine-point advantage.

Freshman Cole Ramos (Kenosha, Wis.) brought the Falcons within striking distance in the match at 149, wasting no time to pick up a win. His first-period fall took the scoreboard to a 12-9 reading while also putting Concordia in contention with a Luther team that had handily won the schools' matchup a month prior.

Luther responded immediately by creating further separation as Clayton and Bryce McDonaugh took back-to-back matches before a fall at 174 pounds.

Senior Jonathan Pullen (Joliet, Ill.) continued his strong season with another first-period fall for the Falcons, keeping Concordia alive to earn a victory in the dual. Senior Peyton Smith (Milwaukee, Wis.) followed up the performance with a win of his own, securing a 4-2 decision in the penultimate match of the contest.

Walter West picked up a victory for the Norse in the heavyweight bout, emerging victorious by fall to grant Luther a 32-18 win in the dual.

Concordia hit the mat again in its second competition of the day to battle the Marymount Saints, looking to collect a win in the first meeting between the two programs.

The Saints jumped out to a quick 13-0 advantage, winning the dual's opening three matches by decision, fall, and major decision.

Concordia countered the performance exactly, taking the next three bouts by the same designations. Ramos picked up his second win of the day by a 16-13 decision, and senior Carson Cook (Las Vegas, Nev.) tallied a fall for the Falcons 34 seconds into the second period of action.

Junior Jeremy Pullen (Joliet, Ill.) notched a major decision for Concordia at 165 pounds to even the score, knotting the two squads at 13 with four bouts remaining in the dual.

Mohammad Fofana and Rylan Moose combined for seven Saints points in the next two matches, putting Marymount in front heading into the match at 197 pounds.

Smith joined Ramos in the two-win club for Concordia in the following bout, picking up a fall victory just over a minute into the opening period.

The performance brought the score within one to create a winner-take-all heavyweight match.

Ultimately, Brey Loving tallied a decision for the Saints at 285 pounds to secure the match and the dual.

The Falcons will look to enter the win column for the first time in 2024 on the second day of the NWCA duals, taking on a familiar foe in the Aurora Spartans at 9:00 a.m. before wrestling again at 11:00.