THIS WEEK
The 11^th ranked University of Mary wresting team takes on the incredible challenge of the NWCA multi-Division National Duals Meet on January 6-7 in Louisville, KY. The Marauders, who are seeded 7^th in the meet, open against #24 Ashland at 10 am EST/9 am CST.   
 
The NWCA National Duals will be held in the Kentucky Exposition Center and features 16 NCAA Division II squads and 95 men's and women's teams total encompassing six divisions.
 
SEEDS
Seeded 7^th, the Marauders are one of eight teams out of the 16 NCAA Division II programs to get a seed at the NWCA National Duals. Central Oklahoma is seeded #1, followed by #2 Nebraska-Kearney, #3 St. Cloud State, #4 West Liberty, #5 Lander, #6 Upper Iowa, #7 UMary and #8 Indianapolis.
 
BRACKETS
The 7^th seeded Marauders and Ashland are at the bottom of the bracket with Newberry and 2^nd seeded Nebraska-Kearney. The UMary/Ashland winners/losers will face off in round two against the winner/loser of the Newberry/Nebraska-Kearney meeting. The second round match is slated for 12 noon EST/11 AM CST.
 
RANKINGS
Fourteen of the 16 NCAA Division II teams at the NCWA National Duals were ranked in the latest NWCA poll released just before Christmas. The field includes #1 University of Central Oklahoma, #2 University of Nebraska at Kearney, #3 St. Cloud State, #4 West Liberty University, #5 Lander University, #9 Upper Iowa, #11 UMary, #12 University of Indianapolis, #12 McKendree, #14 Ft. Hays State University, #14 Gannon University, #16 Colorado Mesa University, #18 Mercyhurst and #24 Ashland University. The two non-ranked teams are Augustana and Newberry College.
 
PROJECTED LINEUP FOR NWCA NATIONAL DUALS
125 | Jaden Verhagen (RS Soph. / 9-3 W-L) / Chase Milligan (RS Fr. / 2-1)
133 |#4 Reece Barnhardt (Soph. / 14-4)
141 | Laken Boese (Sr. / 10-5)
149 | Leo Mushinsky (RS Soph. / 8-7) / Lincoln Turman (RS Sr. / 5-4)
157 | #9 Braydon Huber (RS Jr. / 11-1) / Anthony Velazquez (RS Sr. / 7-5)
165 | Riley Noble (RS Jr. / 1-0) / Dante Roggio (RS Fr. / 5-2)
174 | #3 Max Bruss (RS Jr. / 15-2)
184 | Wyatt Lidberg (RS Soph. / 13-4) / Sam Bruss (RS Soph. / 9-4)
197 | #12 Matthew Kaylor (RS Soph. / 12-6)
285 | Luke Tweeton (RS Fr. / 13-5) / Jose Reyes (RS Soph. 1-2) / Levi Malcolm (RS Jr. / 3-5)
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders claimed 7^th place at the 43^rd Midwest Classic, the largest NCAA Division II tournament of the season. Max Bruss won the 174 title and Reece Barnhardt was the runner-up at 133.
 
RECORD
The Marauders are 4-0 on the season in duals.
 
MARAUDERS CLIMB TO #11 IN NWCA RANKINGS
The University of Mary jumped 11 slots to #11 in the latest NWCA Rankings posted just before Christmas. An impressive team performance at the 43^rd Midwest Classic precipitated the climb.
The latest rankings by the NWCA are based on a team's tournament strength, not a team's dual strength.
 
FOUR MARAUDERS EARN NWCA RANKINGS

• Max Bruss is ranked #3 in the 174 weight class, the top mark among the Marauders. The junior from De Pere, WI, is 15-2 this season and was a national qualifier in 2021.
• All-American Reece Barnhart is ranked 4^th at 133. The sophomore from Bismarck, ND, finished 2^nd at the Midwest Classic and is 14-4 on the season.
• Braydon Huber, a 2-time All-American and a 3-time national qualifier, ranks 9^th at 165. The junior from Post Falls, ID, owns a record of 11-1.
• Matthew Kaylor holds down the #12 slot at 197. The Bismarck, ND, junior is a 2022 NCAA tournament qualifier with a record of 12-6 for the 2022-23 season.

 
ON DECK
The Marauders jump right into Northern Sun competition when UMary returns from the NWCA National Duals. The Marauders visit Minnesota State University on January 12 before stopping at MSU Moorhead on January 13.  After visiting Minot State on January 22, the Marauder host the University of Wisconsin Parkside on January 27.
 
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