The Wabash College wrestling team competed in two final matches Saturday at the 2024 National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Little Giants lost a rematch against the seventh-seeded team from The College of New Jersey in the morning session before a 31-19 loss facing the University of Dubuque in the afternoon match.
 
Wabash trailed 9-0 after TCNJ won the first three bouts of the match. Daniel Uribe ended the Lions' run with a 10-3 victory at 149 pounds. Tyson Nisley scored a 4-2 win at 157 pounds to draw the Little Giants to within three points at 9-6. TCNJ captured the next two bouts to extend its lead to 16-6 until Chase Baczek pinned Jake Gerish 3:56 into their 184-pound showdown. Caden Friedt brought Wabash to within a point at 16-15 with his 5-0 shutout victory at 197 pounds, but the ninth-ranked Lions scored the decisive victory in the heavyweight bout to claim the overall win.
 
The Little Giants faced Dubuque in the final match of the tournament. Arlie Benson put Wabash in front 5-4 with a 21-6 technical fall in his 133-pound bout. Evan Burge extended the lead to 8-4 by scoring a 6-2 decision in the 141-pound match. Uribe picked up a 22-6 tech fall at 149 pounds to lift the Little Giants to a 13-4 advantage. Wabash scored one final victory when Baczek pinned Pilo Perez 5:44 into their 184-pound bout, but a forfeit and pin by the Spartans in the final two matches sent Wabash to the 12-point loss to wrap up the tournament.
 
The Little Giants will compete at the annual Manchester Spartan Mat Classic on Saturday, January 13.
 
Wabash (15) vs The College of New Jersey (20) - Match Summary                          
125       Matt Griffin (TCNJ) over Andrew Punzalan (Wabash) Dec 9-2                        
133       Kyle Nase (TCNJ) over Arlie Benson (Wabash) Dec 5-1                            
141       Sam Kotch (TCNJ) over Evan Burge (Wabash) Dec 11-5                                       
149       Daniel Uribe (Wabash) over Michael Conklin (TCNJ) Dec 10-3              
157       Tyson Nisley (Wabash) over Francesco Rossiter (TCNJ) Dec 4-2               
165       Nicholas Sacco (TCNJ) over Jesse Herrera (Wabash) Maj 14-3                      
174       James Romaine (TCNJ) over Raymond Arebalo (Wabash) Dec 8-6                        
184       Charles Baczek (Wabash) over Jake Gerish (TCNJ) Fall 3:56              
197       Caden Friedt (Wabash) over Chris Stavrou (TCNJ) Dec 5-0                
285       Peter Wersinger (TCNJ) over Tim Stohl (Wabash) Maj 10-0                      
 
 
Wabash (19) vs Dubuque (31) - Match Summary                                                                                                
125       Brady Koontz (Dubuque) over Andrew Punzalan (Wabash) Maj 13-0                   
133       Arlie Benson (Wabash) over Tyler Klein (Dubuque) TF 21-6                                    
141       Evan Burge (Wabash) over Jesus Sanchez (Dubuque) Dec 6-2                                   
149       Daniel Uribe (Wabash) over Evan Atchley (Dubuque) TF 22-6                                   
157       Kale Roth (Dubuque) over Tyson Nisley (Wabash) Dec 8-2                                     
165       Alonzo Smiley (Dubuque) over Jesse Herrera (Wabash) Fall 3:16                                    
174       Zane Pannell (Dubuque) over Raymond Arebalo (Wabash) Fall 6:47                      
184       Charles Baczek (Wabash) over Pilo Perez (Dubuque) Fall 5:44                                  
197       Eli Pannell (Dubuque) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf                                                   
285       Justin Matson (Dubuque) over Neil Johnson (Wabash) Fall 5:32