CEDAR FALLS, IA – The #19 University of Mary wrestling team went 2-1 on the first day of the 2026 NWCA Division II National Duals to advance to day two of the tournament. UMary opened with a 21-19 loss to #6 Lander University, but came back to defeat Maryville University 31-8 and #12 Grand Valley State University 23-20.

The Marauders had four wrestlers go undefeated as Sean Solis, Jacob Strausbaugh, Kaden Renner, and Luke Tweeton each went 3-0. The Marauders compete against #6 Tiffin University on day two of National Duals at 9 am on Saturday, January 10.

LANDER – 21, UMARY – 19
The dual opened with Ben DeForest defeating Kaden Kuenzi by a 7-3 decision at 125 pounds. #7 Jacob Strausbaugh then impressed at 133 pounds by taking down #6 James Joplin by a 15-9 decision.

#11 Sean Solis was outstanding at 141 pounds, earning a 16-6 major decision over #1 Elijah Lusk. True freshman Kale Baumann fell by a 4-1 sudden victory to Isham Peace at 149 pounds.

#15 Kaden Renner got the Marauders back on track, earning a pinfall victory over Reid Noble to give UMary a 16-3 lead. The Bearcats would win the next four matches to gain 18 team points and hold a 21-16 lead heading into the final match.

#4 Luke Tweeton defeated #13 Isaac Sheeren by a 4-2 decision as UMary fell 21-19 to LU.

UMARY – 31, MARYVILLE – 8
Ben DeForrest (125) grinded out a 4-2 decision win over Elijah Almarinez. #7 Jacob Strausbaugh (133) grabbed a 6-4 decision victory over JP Homfeld.

#11 Sean Solis (141) continued his impressive day by grabbing a 23-7 tech fall against Caleb Carter. Kale Baumann (149) pinned Leo Buchheit after 4:31 of action.

Kaden Renner (157) took down Nicolas Zamora by a 12-8 decision. Lane Ewing (165) won by an 18-2 tech fall over Javier Gutierrez.

Wyatt Elam (174) earned a hard-fought 4-1 decision against Mustafa Salimi. The Saints would earn two major decisions at 184 and 197 pounds to make the score 28-8 in favor of UMary.

#7 Luke Tweeton finished the dual off with a 8-3 decision over Orest Nazarchuk to give the Marauders a 31-8 victory.

UMary – 23, Grand Valley State - 20
The Lakers opened the dual with a 10-7 decision win at 125 pounds. #7 Jacob Strausbaugh (133) grabbed his third victory of the day by defeating Jak Keller by a 9-3 decision.

#11 Sean Solis would earn an emphatic 18-2 tech fall over Collin Twigg. After GVSU took down 149 pounds by a major decision, Kaden Renner would get his second pinfall of the day over Maclain Morency.

Lane Ewing (165) pinned Caden Jacobs after 2:03 of action to give UMary a 20-7 lead. The Lakers would win the next three matches to tie the score at 20-20 heading into the final match.

#4 Luke Tweeton came up clutch for the Marauders, grinding out a 3-2 decision over #2 Carter Blough to give UMary a 23-20 victory.

FULL UMARY RESULTS FROM DAY 1 OF NWCA NATIONAL DUALS

Match Summary: UMARY – 19, LAND – 21
125        Ben DeForest (UMary) over Kaden Kuenzi (Lander ) Dec 7-3
133        Jacob Strausbaugh (UMary) over James Joplin (Lander ) Dec 15-9
141        Sean Solis (UMary) over Elijah Lusk (Lander ) Maj 16-6
149        Isham Peace (Lander ) over Kale Baumann (UMary) SV-1 4-1        
157        Kaden Renner (UMary) over Reid Noble (Lander ) Fall 4:11
165        David Hunsberger (Lander ) over Lane Ewing (UMary) TF 22-4
174        Maxwell Kiel (Lander ) over Wyatt Elam (UMary) Maj 15-2
184        Dylan Kohn (Lander ) over Sam Bruss (UMary) Dec 10-3
197        Marvelous Rutledge (Lander ) over Charles Severance (UMary) Fall 4:47
285        Luke Tweeton (UMary) over Isaac Sheeren (Lander ) Dec 4-2

Match Summary: MU – 8, UMARY - 31
125        Ben DeForest (UMary) over Elijah Almarinez (Maryville) Dec 4-2
133        Jacob Strausbaugh (UMary) over JP Homfeld (Maryville) Dec 6-4
141        Sean Solis (UMary) over Caleb Carter (Maryville) TF 23-7 0
149        Kale Baumann (UMary) over Leo Buchheit (Maryville) Fall 4:31   
157        Kaden Renner (UMary) over Nicolas Zamora (Maryville) Dec 12-8
165        Lane Ewing (UMary) over Javier Gutierrez (Maryville) TF 18-2
174        Wyatt Elam (UMary) over Mustafa Salimi (Maryville) Dec 4-1
184        Evan Morris (Maryville) over Sam Bruss (UMary) Maj 12-4
197        Jeremiah Larson (Maryville) over Ty Wiedrich (UMary) Maj 16-4 
285        Luke Tweeton (UMary) over Orest Nazarchuk (Maryville) Dec 8-3
125        Jack Parker (Grand Valley State) over Ben DeForest (UMary) Dec 10-7

Match Summary: GVSU – 20, UMARY - 23
133        Jacob Strausbaugh (UMary) over Jak Keller (Grand Valley State) Dec 9-3
141        Sean Solis (UMary) over Collin Twigg (Grand Valley State) TF 18-2
149        Chris Donathan (Grand Valley State) over Kale Baumann (UMary) Maj 12-2
157        Kaden Renner (UMary) over Maclain Morency (Grand Valley State) Fall 4:49
165        Lane Ewing (UMary) over Caden Jacobs (Grand Valley State) Fall 2:03
174        Joshua Kenny (Grand Valley State) over Wyatt Elam (UMary) Maj 12-0
184        Bradley Mayse (Grand Valley State) over Sam Bruss (UMary) Dec 2-1
197        Brayden Mirjavadi (Grand Valley State) over Charles Severance (UMary) Fall 5:28              
285        Luke Tweeton (UMary) over Carter Blough (Grand Valley State) Dec 3-2