BISMARCK, ND - In one of the most competitive duals of the season, the #14 University of Mary Wrestling team (11-2, 4-1 NSIC) took down #10 Upper Iowa University in thrilling fashion Saturday night. Trailing 9-13 with three matches to go, the Marauders rallied for three straight victories on gutsy performances from Max Bruss, Wyatt Lidberg, and Matthew Kaylor. An unsportsmanlike-conduct point deduction would make it an 18-12 final team score to elevate the MAC Mob. 

The dual began with the heavyweights, Upper Iowa's #10 Zach Ryg rode out Luke Tweeton to a 1-0 decision to give the Peacocks the first advantage. Jaden Verhagen quickly answered for the Marauders, securing a 5-2 decision win at 125. 

#3 Reece Barnhardt controlled his matchup with Kaden Anderlik, needing only a pair of takedowns for a 4-0 decision win. #4 Tate Murty next defeated Laken Boese 5-4 at 141, tying the team score again 6-6. Leo Mushinsky put forth a solid offensive effort besting Ethen Doty 4-1 to put UMary back on top 9-6 entering intermission. 

The Peacocks would return with strength as Eric Faught defeated Anthony Velazquez 5-2 at 157 pounds, and #2 ranked Chase Luensman rolled to a 13-5 major decision at 165. 

Down 9-13, the Marauders needed a big swing in momentum with three matches remaining. #2 Max Bruss and Scott Kellenberger fought back and forth in a great match at 174. With the score tied 2-2 late in the bout, Bruss secured a takedown with just five seconds left to win 4-2, electrifying the MAC. 

An unsportsmanlike-conduct call on Kellenberger would cost the Peacocks a team point, once again leaving the team score tied 12-12 down to the final two matches. 

Wyatt Lidberg and Cameron Lopez followed with another clinic at 184 pounds. Lidberg controlled the match early with takedowns, but Lopez found a way to get back on the offensive to tie it up 6-6 in the third period. With the match stopped out of bounds at 0:10, Lidberg shot up and broke Lopez's clutch for an escape with just 0:03 left in the match, winning by a 7-6 decision. 

Just like the two matches prior, the deciding match finale did not disappoint. Matthew Kaylor would lead his match with Dalton Hahn 3-0 entering the third period, but an escape plus a point for stalling against Kaylor would instill an intense finish. 

Hahn would nearly secure Kaylor in a headlock with time expiring. However, Kaylor slipped through the clutch and swung behind Hahn for a takedown just before the final buzzer, defiantly giving the Marauders their fourth NSIC dual victory, and fourth dual victory on the season over a ranked squad. 

285 | #10 Zach Ryg (Upper Iowa) over Luke Tweeton (Mary) - Dec 1-0 | Upper Iowa 3-0
125 | Jaden Verhagen (Mary) over Colby Lopez (Upper Iowa) - Dec 5-2 | Tied 3-3
133 | #3 Reece Barnhardt (Mary) over Kaden Anderlik (Upper Iowa) - Dec 4-0 | UMary 6-3
141 | #4 Tate Murty (Upper Iowa) over Laken Boese (Mary) - Dec 5-4 | Tied 6-6
149 | Leo Mushinsky (Mary) over Ethen Doty (Upper Iowa) - Dec 4-1 | UMary 9-6
157 | Eric Faught (Upper Iowa) over Anthony Velazquez (Mary) - Dec 5-2 | Tied 9-9
165 | #2 Chase Luensman (Upper Iowa) over Riley Noble (Mary) - Maj 13-5 | Upper Iowa 13-9
174 | #2 Max Bruss (Mary) over Scott Kellenberger (Upper Iowa) - Dec 4-2 | (Unsportsmanlike conduct: -1 Upper Iowa) Tied 12-12
184 | Wyatt Lidberg (Mary) over Cameron Lopez (Upper Iowa) - Dec 7-6 | UMary 15-12
197 | Matthew Kaylor (Mary) over Dalton Hahn (Upper Iowa) - Dec 5-2 | UMary 18-12

UP NEXT
The Marauders will hit the road for another pair of duals against traditionally formidable opponents in the Northern Sun on February 3rd and 4th. UMary will square off against Augustana University (7-9, 2-3 NSIC) Friday, February 3 at 7 pm in Sioux Falls, SD. The Marauders then venture to Marshall, MN for a date with Southwest Minnesota State University (1-4, 1-4 NSIC) Saturday, February 4 at 2 pm. 

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