Howell, Mich. - The Marian wrestling team competed for the first time in the 2025 calendar year on Friday night, going 2-0 in a tri-dual hosted by Cleary University. Marian earned a 48-5 win against Siena Heights to open the night, while finishing with a 40-7 victory against the host Cleary. Marian is 2-0 overall on the year in dual action.

MARIAN 48-5 SIENA HEIGHTS
Marian dominated their dual against Siena Heights, winning seven of the eight matches they competed in, while earning two wins by forfeit. While Preston Haines (125) and Jeff Dunasky Jr. (157) each scored the wins by forfeit, the action on the mat began with Landon Bertsch's quick victory by fall at 133, winning his match in 83 seconds. Dylan McKelvey would suffer a tech fall defeat in the next match at 141, but Marian rebounded with a win by fall scored by Marlin Williams at 149, who claimed the pin at the 6:03 mark.

Marian led 24-5 after the wins by forfeit and two falls, and scored another five points in their next match as Braden Getz defeated Lee Borders 17-1 at 165, claiming the tech fall win in 5:25. Evan Tilton followed the winning roll as he scored a win by fall in 27 seconds at 174, and at 184 Liam Begley earned a major decision victory of an 11-1 score. The Knights would score nine points over their final two matches, as Clay Guenin earned a win by fall at 197 in 1:32, while Michael Yerian landed a 5-1 decision victory at 285 to end the match.

Marian totaled four wins by fall, two forfeits, and one victory by decision, major decision, and tech fall against Siena Heights.

MARIAN 40-7 CLEARY
Against Cleary, Marian fell behind early, losing two of the first three matches of the dual. Preston Haines fell by major decision in a 15-5 match against Jamarcus Smith at 125, while at 141 Jacob Lynn defeated Marian's Dylan McKelvey 14-10 in a high-scoring bout. Landon Bertsch broke up the wins with his 10-0 major decision win at 133, and Marlin Williams would land a win by fall in 4:08 to put the Knights in a 10-7 advantage.

Following the victory at 149, Marian went on a roll, claiming the final seven wins of the dual. Jeff Dunasky won by fall in 55 seconds at 157, and at 165 Braden Getz scored a win by fall in 5:36. Evan Tilton (174) and Clay Guenin (197) would earn wins by forfeit to keep Marian's scoring on the uptick, and a win by decision at 184 by Liam Begley continued the dominance. Michael Yerian finished the one-sided vcitory with a 1-0 win at 285, closing the match with a 40-7 win.

Marian earned three wins by fall, two by forfeit, two by decision, and one by major decision in the win over (RV) Cleary. 

Marian will come home to host Lourdes on Sunday afternoon, hosting their first home dual of the season at 2:00 p.m.

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