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