Falcons Conclude NWCA Duals

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Concordia wrestling team matched up against Aurora in its third and final contest of the National Wrestling Coaches Association Duals, dropping to the Spartans in a close meet that concluded the two-day event for the Falcons.

Aurora jumped out to a commanding 18-0 advantage, taking the first three bouts by fall victories, one in each period.

The Falcons came storming back, stringing together three consecutive victories of their own. Freshman Cole Ramos (Kenosha, Wis.), senior Carson Cook (Las Vegas, Nev.), and junior Jeremy Pullen (Joliet, Ill.) represented Concordia's winning trio midway through the match.

Ramos' victory by major decision improved on his undefeated NWCA Duals record after being one of two Falcons wrestlers to go 2-0 the day prior.

At 157 pounds, Cook's technical fall represented five additional points for Concordia, bringing it halfway back to even with the Spartans at an 18-9 reading on the scoreboard.

Pullen took the first and only fall victory for the Falcons in the dual, taking the bout in just 1:54 of wrestling.

Christian Komitas snatched the six points right back for Aurora in the following match, winning by fall to restore the Spartans' nine-point lead.

Senior duo Jonathan Pullen (Joliet, Ill.) and Peyton Smith (Milwaukee, Wis.) brought the Falcons to a tie with Aurora over the next two matches, winning by technical fall and major decision, respectively.

The 24-24 score set up Concordia's second winner-take-all heavyweight matchup in as many duals, falling to Marymount a day earlier in the same situation.

Ultimately, a second-period fall victory sealed the contest for the Spartans, who the Falcons will see again in two weeks at the CCIW Duals.

The Falcons wrapped up the event as the 23rd-place finisher.

Concordia will be back in action on Thursday, January 11 in a home dual against the 1-9 Wheaton Thunder.