Louisville, Ky. - The Marian wrestling team had one of their best performances of the 2022-23 season over the weekend in Louisville, Ky., as they finished fifth overall at the NWCA Challenge Duals. Marian earned wins over three different ranked opponents, including a victory over No. 5 Indiana Tech to seal their top-five finish.
#7 Marian 30-9 #9 Campbellsville
Marian began their weekend with a dominating victory over Campbellsville, racing past the Tigers 30-9. Anthony Hughes lost the opening match by decision at 125, but a string of victories came as Blake Mulkey started the run with a four-point win by decision at 133. Logan Wagner won by fall at 141 and Seth Johnson scored what would stand as the match-clinching victory, winning by fall at 149.
Bailey Moore and Elliott Rodgers convincingly won by decision at their respective 157 and 165 weight classes, while Marian's Noah Hollendonner and Sam Osho each scored a win by decision of five or more points. Jack Servies closed the victory with a 3-2 win by decision against Grayson Stevens, capping Marian's score at 30. Austin Lane was unable to complete the string of nine-straight wins in the dual, as he was pinned in the first round by Jaden Sonner.
#7 Marian 13-21 #3 Southeastern
The Knights took on Southeastern in their second dual on Friday, falling behind early in the match as the Fire took a 12-3 lead after four weight classes. Mulkey earned Marian's lone victory in the first four rounds, taking a 5-1 victory at 133. Moore and Rodgers got Marian back within two points as they earned respective wins by decision and major decision, but the Fire stayed in control as Stephen Kelle defeated Hollendonner at 174. Osho was victorious at 184 to keep it a two-point match, but Servies and Lane both went down in the final two weights as Marian suffered their first defeat.
#7 Marian 46-5 #16 Baker
The Knights regrouped and closed Friday with a dominant win, taking victory in 9-of-10 weight classes against No. 16 Baker. Hughes won by forfeit, and Mulkey and Aundre Beatty each won by fall at 133 and 141. The Knights forfeited at 149, but the string of wins by fall continued as Moore and Rodgers won in the third period of their matches. Hollendonner earned a major decision victory by a 16-2 score for his first victory of the weekend, and Osho won 11-7. Servies rebounded with a win at 197 taking a 6-5 decision, and at 285 Lane earned a win by forfeit.
Baker was stripped one point for unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in the 46-5 victory.
#7 Marian 34-4 #14 Morningside
Wrestling against Morningside in their first dual of Saturday morning, the Knights got off to a lightning fast start, as Hughes won by decision to start the morning at 125. Mulkey earned a win by forfeit, and Beatty stuck around in the lineup at 141, winning by fall. Both the Knights and Mustangs forfeited at 149, and Moore restarted the string of wins at 157 with a 5-3 victory by decision. Rodgers won by fall with 20 seconds remaining in his match, leading 9-4 before getting the final pin.
Hollendonner earned his second with a 7-4 victory,. and at 184 Osho won by a 3-2 score, his narrowest margin of victory on the weekend. Servies capped Marian's eighth win with a 9-0 major decision victory. Lane was unable to complete the shutou, as Hunter DeJong of the Mustangs defeated him by a 13-2 major decision result.
#7 Marian 21-18 #5 Indiana Tech
Marian's win over Morningside moved them to the fifth-place match, where the Knights would take on WHAC rival Indiana Tech. The Knights started strong against the Warriors, getting wins from Hughes at 125 and Mulkey at 133, with the duo of lightweights each scoring victories by decisions. Beatty earned one of the top victories for the day, as he defeated Kyle Kantola 5-3 by sudden victory, needing extra time to secure the 9-0 start.
The Knights forfeited at 149, and Nate Wheeler defeated Moore to level the score at 9-9, but Marian quickly rebounded with Rodgers scoring a first period win by fall. The six points helped pad the lead, with Hollendonner claiming his third consecutive win as he won 6-0 at 174. Osho was unable to assert himself as the top-184 wrestler in the conference as Eric Vermillion won the top-three matchup in the weight class by a 3-2 score, however Jack Servies was able to ice the match, as he earned a critcial 5-1 victory at 197. Servies' win sealed the win for Marian as Lane was defeated by fall at 285, with Marian claiming the 21-18 victory.
Marian finished the weekend 3-2 overall, finishing fifth overall with the win over Indiana Tech. Mulkey led Marian with a perfect 5-0 record, while Hollendonner finished 3-2 winning his last three matches. Sam Osho went 4-1 on the weekend, and Aundre Beatty went 3-0.
Marian will next compete on January 14 with the reserves competing at Manchester University, while the home opener against Lourdes will be held on Sunday, January 15 at 1 p.m. in the PE Center.
MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos, and more.
