CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Vermont State University Castleton wrestling team finished day one of the NWCA National Duals at 2-2. The team took its first match of the day with a 36-3 win over Albion, before falling 31-10 to No. 5 Loras. They bounced back against Millikin in the third match of the day, taking a 40-3 win, but fell in their final match 39-3 to No. 3 Wisconsin-La Crosse.
 
The Spartans move to 6-4 on the season in dual meet action as they concluded day one, and will face No. 9 Central tomorrow at 10 a.m in the Division III 9th-12th place bracket.
 
No. 14 VTSU Castleton 36, Albion 3
The Spartans dominated their first match of the day, taking down Albion 36-3. Seventh-ranked Drew Marchese kicked off the Spartans appearance at the 2026 NWCA National Duals with a quick 16-0 technical fall win over Landon Johnson at 125 pounds to give Castleton a 5-0 lead. Stone Farnsworth followed up at 133 pounds with a 2-1 sudden victory win for three more team points for the Spartans. At 141 pounds, Nicolas Balella took down Koen Eberhard in a dominant 19-2 technical fall win, extending the lead to 13-0 for the Spartans. Joseph Kennedy shut out his opponent at 149 pounds in an 11-0 major decision win, giving Castleton four more team points. Ninth-ranked Nathaniel Camiscioli battled with Jayden Lewis at 157 pounds, taking a 5-0 decision win, extending the team's lead to 20-0.
 
Jashon Holmes matched up with the 13^th-ranked Peyton Brooks at 165 pounds, taking him down in a 9-0 major decision win, claiming Castleton's first ranked win of the day. Joseph Baker earned a 13-5 major decision over Jack Smith at 174 pounds, giving Castleton a 28-0 lead. Desmond McLaughlin battled in a tightly contested bout against Owen Turnbow, winning 4-2 via decision at 184 pounds, while Josh Negron earned a 17-0 technical fall win at 197 pounds, putting the Spartans up 36-0. Castleton's only loss of the dual came in a down to the wire matchup at 285 pounds, with Keonta Crawford falling 6-5 via decision due to riding time.
 
No. 5 Loras 31, No. 14 VTSU Castleton 10
Castleton battled against a tough fifth-ranked Loras in match two of the day, falling 31-10. Marchese fell 8-0 via major decision at 125 pounds, before Farnsworth and Balella took back-to-back matches at 133 and 141 pounds, via a 13-9 decision and 11-3 major decision, respectively, putting Castleton up 7-4. Kennedy matched with 12^th-ranked Chase Fiser at 149 pounds, falling by an 18-2 technical fall. Camiscioli faced sixth-ranked Eric Kinkaid, and was pinned in 1:04 at 157 pounds, putting Loras up 15-7 halfway through the match.
 
Holmes put up a fight at 165 pounds, but fell 3-2 via decision, and Baker was pinned by second-ranked Dustin Bohren in 54 seconds at 174 pounds. McLaughlin faced eighth-ranked Landry Barker, falling in a 16-3 major decision, putting Loras up 28-7. Negron notched his second win of the day, taking down Kam Royster in a close 4-3 win via decision, giving the Spartans 10 points. In the final bout of match two, Logan Frank took on Boden Brokopp at 285 pounds, but fell 8-1 via decision.
 
No. 14 VTSU Castleton 40, Millikin 3
Marchese picked up his second win of the day at 125 pounds, with a quick 19-1 technical fall win, followed by Farnsworth with a 17-2 technical fall win at 133 pounds, putting Castleton up 10-0. Balella took down Colin Claffey at 141 pounds with a 16-5 major decision, while Dom Lapier made his National Dual debut at 149 pounds, taking a 5-1 decision win, extending the Spartans' lead to 17-0. Camiscioli fell in a tight 7-6 decision at 157 pounds for the Spartans only loss of the match.
 
Holmes earned an 18-3 technical fall victory at 165 pounds, and Baker pinned his opponent in 28 seconds at 174 pounds, putting the Spartans up 28-3. McLaughlin took down his opponent with a 1:06 pin at 184 pounds , while Negron headed into the tie breaker at 197 pounds, ultimately taking a 6-2 victory. Crawford secured the Castleton win with a 10-7 decision at 285 pounds, as the Spartans took the 40-3 win.
 
No. 3 Wisconsin-La Crosse 39, No. 14 VTSU Castleton 3
Castleton faced its toughest opponent of the day in its final match of the NWCA National Duals in Wisconsin-La Crosse, ranked third in the country, facing four top-15 wrestlers in their respective weight classes. Marchese won the Spartans only bout of match four, with a 12-10 decision over Cole Gentsch at 125 pounds. Farnsworth was pinned at 133 pounds, while Balella faced 12^th-ranked Talan Schutte at 141 pounds, falling in a 5-0 decision. Kennedy and Camiscioli dropped their matches at 149 and 157 pounds respectively.
 
Holmes matched up third-ranked Tanner Gerber at 165 pounds, falling 15-0 via technical fall. At 174 pounds, Baker faced fifth-ranked Eddie Simes, dropping an 11-1 major decision as Wisconsin-La Crosse jumped out to a 27-3 lead. McLaughlin fell in a tightly contested bout at 184 pounds, 5-4 via decision, with Negron following up with a 3-0 decision loss at 197 pounds to sixth-ranked Tyler Dormanen. Crawford competed in the Spartans final match, being pinned by his opponent as Wisconsin-La Crosse took the 39-3 win.
 
The Spartans in Iowa return to the mat at 10 a.m. for a match against No. 9 Central tomorrow (January 10), while the other part of the team competes at the Manganaro Duals as part of this weekend's split-squad action.