CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Vermont State University Castleton wrestling team finished day one of the NWCA National Duals going 2-1, winning the opening match over No. 13 Loras. The Spartans fell in match two to No. 3 Augsburg but finished out the day by taking match three over No. 16 Wisconsin Whitewater.
No. 7 VTSU came out fighting in the opening dual against No. 13 Loras, winning the last three weight classes to clinch a 19-15 win before dropping the second dual, 22-12 against No. 3 Augsburg, the reigning national champions. The Spartans quickly took control of the final match of the night after dropping the first two matches, winning seven of the 10 weight classes to earn a 24-9 victory to close out day one.
The Spartans move to 8-2 on the season in dual meet action and will face No. 10 North Central on Saturday at 10 a.m. The squad looks to improve upon last season's seventh-place finish, the squad's best ever in the two prior appearances at the tournament.
No. 7 VTSU Castleton 19, No. 13 Loras 15
The Spartans started the day at 125 pounds, with Gavin Bradley taking his first match via decision, 4-3. Drew Marchese dropped his match at 133 pounds, and James Rodriguez bested his opponent 13-4 at 141 pounds to put the Spartans up 7-4. The Spartans dropped the next two matches at 149 and 157 pounds, giving the Duhawks a 14-7 lead after five matches.
Jashon Holmes took down the No. 5 ranked wrestler at 165 pounds, Dustin Bohren via decision before the 174 pound match was dropped by the Spartans putting them down 15-10 heading into the final three matches. Sampson Wilkins, ranked first nationally, brought the Spartans within two winning via decision over his opponent at 184 pounds. At 197 pounds, Haven Tatarek earned a 13-6 win over his opponent to put the Spartans up 16-15 heading into the final match. Evan Day pulled out an 11-5 win via decision at 285 pounds to secure the Spartans 19-15 victory in match one of the day.
No. 3 Augsburg 22, No. 7 VTSU Castleton 12
The Spartans fell to the third-ranked team in the country in a tough bout in match two. Bradley got the Spartans off to a hot start, taking match one by decision, followed by Kaya Bogle taking down No. 15 Chance Suddeth via decision at 133 pounds. Rodriguez earned a 7-2 win over his opponent putting the Spartans up 9-0.
The Auggies took the next three matches at 149, 157, and 165 pounds to take a 10-9 lead before Connor Gregory took down No. 6 Seth Goetzinger at 174 pounds to put the Spartans back up by two. The Spartans fell in the last three matches at 184. 197, and 285 pounds giving the Auggies the 22-12 victory.
No. 7 VTSU Castleton 24, No. 16 Wisconsin Whitewater 9
The Spartans got off to a slow start in the final match of day one, falling at 125 and 133 pounds. Rodriguez took down No. 9 Evan Onstad at 141 pounds, pinning him in 1:20 to tie the match at six. The Spartans took the next three bouts with Elijah Cyr winning in sudden victory at 149 pounds, and Nathaniel Camiscioli winning via decision, 8-2 at 157 pounds to put the Spartans up 12-6. Holmes earned a win via decision at 165 pounds to lengthen the Spartans lead to 15-6.
Dropping the 174 pound match, the Spartans took the last three bouts of the match, with Blake Chapman, Tatarek, and Day all taking their matches via decision at 184, 197, and 285 pounds respectively. Tatarek finished the day eclipsing the 100 win mark as a Spartan wrestler against the Warhawks.
