LOUISVILLE, KY – With two wins over the top four teams in the nation and three victories over ranked opponents, the University of Mary wrestling team made a statement while claiming third place at the NWCA National Duals. The 11^th ranked Marauders wrapped up the two-day event with a colossal 37-3 win over #4 West Liberty University and finishing the meet with three wins in four matches.
 
The 11^th ranked Marauders opened the tournament with a 37-8 drubbing of #24 Ashland University before downing #2 University of Nebraska Kearney, the defending NCAA Division II nation champion.
 
After opening day two with a 26-6 loss to #2 St. Cloud State University in the semifinals, the Marauders came back to rout West Liberty in the fourth and final match of the day.
 
Following a seventh place team finish at the 43^rd Midwest Classic prior to Christmas with a third place finish at the preeminent dual meet of the regular season, the Marauders have raised their national visibility as UMary prepares to enter Northern Sun action next weekend. The Marauders first visit Minnesota State University on Thursday, January 12, before a stop at MSU Moorhead on Friday, January 13.
 
SEMIFINALS | #3 St. Cloud State University 26 #11 University of Mary 6
Coming off a win over defending national champion and #2 University of Nebraska Kearney in the quarterfinals on the opening day of the NWCA National Duals, #11 UMary faced a familiar foe in Northern Sun rival St. Cloud State University. Throughout the match the #3 Huskies demonstrated why they own 11 straight conference titles and three recent national championships in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
 
With the Marauders down 4-0 after the opening match, #4 Reece Barnhardt took to the mat and picked up a convincing win at 133. The UMary All-American reeled off eight of the last nine points to capture his match 8-3.
 
Wyatt Lidberg earned the other Marauders win against the Huskies. The redshirt sophomore from Albertville, MN, picked up a narrow 3-2 decision over Bryce Fitzpatrick.
 
Rolling out ranked wrestlers in seven of the ten weight classes, the Huskies picked up wins over the Marauders in each, including all three matches where both competitors were ranked.
 
At 157, #9 Braydon Huber suffered a close 5-2 loss to #4 Nick Novak.
 
A day after defeating the second ranked wrestler at 174, #3 Max Bruss came up just short in an effort to knock off #1 Abner Romero, taking a 5-3 loss.
 
#12 Matthew Kaylor fell to #4 Dominic Murphy at 197 by a 7-2 decision.
 
The losses for Huber, Kaylor and Bruss were the only defeats suffered by UMary's four ranked wrestlers on the weekend as the quartet finished with a combined mark of 13-3 on the weekend.
 
In another tense matchup, Luke Tweeton was edged 3-1 in the first overtime of the 285 match.
 
#3 St. Cloud State 26 #11 University of Mary 6
NWCA National Dual Semifinals
January 7, 2023 | Louisville, KY
 
125 - #6 Paxton Creese (St. Cloud State) over Chase Milligan (Mary) Maj 14-3
133 - #4 Reece Barnhardt (Mary) over Sam Spencer (St. Cloud State) Dec 8-3
141 - #8 Alyeus Craig (St. Cloud State) over Lincoln Turman (Mary) Dec 7-4
149 - #4 Joey Bianchini (St. Cloud State) over Leo Mushinsky (Mary) Maj 11-2
157 - #4 Nick Novak (St. Cloud State) over #9 Braydon Huber (Mary) Dec 5-2
165 - #10 Anthony Herrera (St. Cloud State) over Riley Noble (Mary) Dec 6-4
174 - #1 Abner Romero (St. Cloud State) over #3 Max Bruss (Mary) Dec 5-3
184 - Wyatt Lidberg (Mary) over Bryce Fitzpatrick (St. Cloud State) Dec 3-2
197 - #4 Dominic Murphy (St. Cloud State) over #12 Matt Kaylor (Mary) Dec 7-2
285 - Elijah Novak (St. Cloud State) over Luke Tweeton (Mary) SV-1 3-1
 
THIRD PLACE | #11 University of Mary 37 #4 West Liberty 3
Defeating a nationally-ranked opponent for the third time on the weekend, 11^th ranked University of Mary overwhelmed #4 West Liberty University 37-3 to earn third place at the NWCA National Duals. The nine Marauders victories included six bonus point wins. The lone UMary loss came in overtime as West Liberty sat a handful of ranked wrestlers.
 
As he did in the Marauders quarterfinal win over defending national champion and #2 Nebraska Kearney, redshirt freshman Chase Milligan started the match with a decisive win at 125 for UMary, downing Alexander Crane 9-2.
 
#4 Reece Barnhardt finished a perfect weekend with a dominant effort at 133, earning a 12-0 major victory to sweep all four of his matches.
 
After West Liberty earned its lone win of the match at 141, UMary rolled to wins in the final seven weight classes.
 
Leo Mushinsky started the run with a 6-3 decision at 149. #9 Braydon Huber (157) followed with a 17-2 technical fall before Riley Noble (165) claimed a 6-4 overtime decision in the first bonus session.
 
#3 Max Bruss (174) and Wyatt Lidberg (184) both came through with wins by major decision before #12 Matt Kaylor (197) posted the Marauders 2^nd technical fall of the match.

In the final match of the event, Luke Tweeton earned a win by medical forfeit when his opponent was forced to retire due to injury. 
 
#11 University of Mary 37 #4 West Liberty 3
NWCA National Dual | 3^rd place match
January 7, 2023 | Louisville, KY
 
125 - Chase Milligan (Mary) over Alexander Crane (West Liberty) Dec 9-2
133 - #4 Reece Barnhardt (Mary) over Matt Englehardt (West Liberty) Maj 12-0
141 - Khyvon Grace (West Liberty) over Laken Boese (Mary) SV-1 10-8
149 - Leo Mushinsky (Mary) over Jacob Simpson (West Liberty) Dec 6-3
157 - #9 Braydon Huber (Mary) over Blake Miller (West Liberty) TF 17-2
165 - Riley Noble (Mary) over Alec Cook (West Liberty) SV-1 6-4
174 - #3 Max Bruss (Mary) over Caden Kenworthy (West Liberty) Maj 12-0
184 - Wyatt Lidberg (Mary) over Chance Morgan (West Liberty) Maj 14-2
197 - #12 Matt Kaylor (Mary) over Parker Bentley (West Liberty) TF 16-0
285 - Luke Tweeton (Mary) over Jamie Kilmer (West Liberty) Medical Forfeit
 
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