The Wabash College wrestling team finished 1-2 on Friday's opening day of the 2023 U.S. Marine Corps / National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The Little Giants defeated the University of Wisconsin – Platteville 23-14 in the first round before a 30-13 loss to UW-La Crosse in round two. Wabash lost to The College of New Jersey 19-15 in Friday's final consolation bracket match. All three of the Little Giants' opponents entered the tournament ranked in the top twenty of the dual-meet rankings in the NWCA coach's poll.
 
Wabash started the first day facing 14th-ranked UW – Platteville after the Pioneers claimed a 36-10 team victory in the preliminary round of the Division III bracket. The Little Giants' James Day opened the match with an 11-3 major victory over Trace Gephart at 125 pounds. Evan Burge scored a pin at the 1:44 mark of his 141-pound bout against Kyler Neuberger to put Wabash in front 10-4 in the match scoring.
 
Daniel Uribe defeated Brock Parker 8-2 at 149 pounds. Mawuli Navis put Wabash in front 16-7 with a 10-8 individual victory in overtime at 165 pounds. Chase Baczek added a 7-0 shutout victory at 184 pounds over Kasey Ross to give the Little Giants a 19-10 lead heading into the final two bouts. The Pioneers closed to within five points at 19-14 before Jack Heldt gave Wabash the 23-14 team victory with an 11-1 individual major victory at heavyweight.
 
The Little Giants faced third-ranked UW-La Crosse in the second round. Day gave Wabash a strong start with a 9-2 win at 125 pounds against Brandon Murphy that was eventually scored as a major victory to give the Little Giants four team points to start the round. Burge scored a 7-2 victory in his 141-pound match against Tyler Shackle to put Wabash in front 7-3. The Eagles came back to win the next six matches before Heldt closed out the round with a pin at the 4:09 mark of his heavyweight match against Michael Douglas for the 30-13 final.
 
Wabash moved to the consolation bracket for the final round of competition Friday against the 16^th-ranked squad from The College of New Jersey. The Lions won the first three matches before Uribe battled to a 4-3 victory at 149 pounds over Michael Conklin. Baczek picked up a 6-4 victory over Quinn Haddad in the 184-pound match. Grant Johnson scored a 5-4 win against Joe Daddario before Heldt pinned Peter Wersinger at the 4:34 mark of their heavyweight match to finish 3-0 for the day.
 
Wabash returns to action Saturday in the ninth-through-12^th-place bracket, starting with an 11 a.m. competition against Luther College.
 
2023 US Marine Corps / National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals - Results (Friday, January 6, 2023)

Championship Round 1 - Wabash defeated Wisconsin-Platteville 23-14

• 125 - James Day (Wabash) over Trace Gephart (Wisconsin-Platteville) Maj 11-3
• 133 - Zach Licht (Wisconsin-Platteville) over Blake McGee (Wabash) Maj 17-4
• 141 - Evan Burge (Wabash) over Kyler Neuberger (Wisconsin-Platteville) Fall 1:44
• 149 - Daniel Uribe (Wabash) over Brock Parker (Wisconsin-Platteville) Dec 8-2
• 157 - Aiden Brosinski (Wisconsin-Platteville) over Timothy Smith (Wabash) Dec 5-2
• 165 - Mawuli Nevis (Wabash) over Coy Ruess (Wisconsin-Platteville) SV-1 10-8
• 174 - Nathan Wynsma (Wisconsin-Platteville) over Ray Arebalo (Wabash) Dec 4-1
• 184 - Chase Baczek (Wabash) over Kasey Ross (Wisconsin-Platteville) Dec 7-0
• 197 - Tyler Hannah (Wisconsin-Platteville) over Grant Johnson (Wabash) Maj 10-2
• 285 - Jack Heldt (Wabash) over Brett Schoenherr (Wisconsin-Platteville) Maj 11-1

 
Championshiops Round 2 -  Wisconsin-La Crosse defeated Wabash 30-13

• 125 - James Day (Wabash) over Brandon Murphy (Wisconsin-La Crosse) Dec 9-2
• 133 - Cael Weinzweig (Wisconsin-La Crosse) over Arlie Benson (Wabash) Dec 4-2
• 141 - Evan Burge (Wabash) over Tyler Shackle (Wisconsin-La Crosse) Dec 7-2
• 149 - Tyler Goebel (Wisconsin-La Crosse) over Daniel Uribe (Wabash) Dec 7-3
• 157 - Nolan Hertel (Wisconsin-La Crosse) over Timothy Smith (Wabash) Maj 13-3
• 165 - Noah Leisgang (Wisconsin-La Crosse) over Jesse Herrera (Wabash) TF 17-2
• 174 - Seth Brossard (Wisconsin-La Crosse) over Ray Arebalo (Wabash) Fall 4:32
• 184 - Kalyn Jahn (Wisconsin-La Crosse) over Chase Baczek (Wabash) Fall 4:57
• 197 - Ben Kawczynski (Wisconsin-La Crosse) over Grant Johnson (Wabash) Dec 6-1
• 285 - Jack Heldt (Wabash) over Michael Douglas (Wisconsin-La Crosse) Fall 4:09
• Wabash's team score was adjusted by 1.0 for Major Decision at 125 pounds

 
Consolation Bracket Round 2 – The College of New Jersey defeated Wabash 19-15

• 125 - Ryan Rosenthal (TCNJ) over James Day (Wabash) Dec 4-3
• 133 - Kyle Nase (TCNJ) over Arlie Benson (Wabash) Dec 6-3
• 141 - Domenic Difrancescantonio (TCNJ) over Evan Burge (Wabash) Dec 8-3
• 149 - Daniel Uribe (Wabash) over Michael Conklin (TCNJ) Dec 4-3
• 157 - Matthew Sacco (TCNJ) over Timothy Smith (Wabash) Maj 12-3
• 165 - Nicholas Sacco (TCNJ) over Mawuli Nevis (Wabash) Dec 5-0
• 174 - Reid Colella (TCNJ) over Ray Arebalo (Wabash) Dec 3-1
• 184 - Chase Baczek (Wabash) over Quinn Haddad (TCNJ) Dec 6-4
• 197 - Grant Johnson (Wabash) over Joe Daddario (TCNJ) Dec 5-4
• 285 - Jack Heldt (Wabash) over Peter Wersinger (TCNJ) Fall 4:34