DUBUQUE, Iowa - The #20-ranked University of Dubuque wrestling team faced a tough opponent on Friday night when they journeyed across town to battle the #7-ranked Loras College Duhawks. UD jumped out to an early 8-0 lead after back-to-back major decisions to start the dual meet, but the host Duhawks would collect the 27-15 victory.

Brady Koontz won the 125 lbs. match by a major decision 16-4. He led 2-0 after a takedown in the opening period. Loras took the lead in the match with a near fall and four back points. Brady Koontz reversed and then would end the period with two four-point nearfalls to lead 12-4. He got the reversal to start period three, collected a point for stalling to finish 15-4.

Dylan Koontz would help UD earn back-to-back wins with a 12-2 major decision at 133 lbs. Both wrestlers failed to score in the first period before Loras would be called for their first stall warning with under 20 seconds left. Dylan Koontz grabbed a reversal in period two and a four-point nearfall. Loras reversed before Koontz grabbed an escape and a takedown to end the second period. He would collect an escape and another takedown in the final period to secure the major decision.

Loras would capture wins at 141, 149, 157, 165, before the Spartans stopped the Duhawk rally with a 6-1 victory by Reymundo Raiz at 174 lbs. Raiz was pushed all over the mat in the first period which ended scoreless. Loras chose down to start period two and would escape for a slim one point lead as Raiz responded with a quick takedown for a 2-1 lead entering the third period. Raiz chose down for thr final period and gained a quick escape and a takedown for the victory to narrow the Duhawk lead 11-18.

The host Duhawks locked up the dual with a fall in 3:56 in the 184 lbs. match, extending the host team lead 24-11. Tyler Thurston fought hard for the 8-0 major decision at 197 lbs. Match was scoreless after the first period. Thurston scored first on a reversal and Loras was called for a stall warning to end the second period. Thurston scored quickly in the final two minutes with a takedown and a four-point nearfall to stretch lead to 8-0.

At 285 lbs. Darryl Aiello lost a squeaker on a one point riding time by a final 2-1. He scored first on an escape in period two and Loras tied the match in the third on an escape. The difference was around 1:03 riding time in favor of the Duhawks.

UD will host the Small College Invite on Saturday, Feb. 4 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Schools participating include: University of Dubuque, University of Chicago, Cornell College, and Eureka College. The Spartans continue their American Rivers Conference dual meets next Thursday and Friday when they host Nebraska Wesleyan University and #13-ranked Coe College in Stoltz Sports Center.

Matches began at 125 lbs.

125 - #5 Brady Koontz (Dubuque) over Justin Murray (Loras) (MD 15-4) 0 4
133 - #8 Dylan Koontz (Dubuque) over #13 Mason McMillen (Loras) (MD 12-2) 0 8
141 - #7 Eric Kinkaid (Loras) over Jevontea Yarbrough (Dubuque) (Dec 8-3) 3 8
149 - #13 Jalen Schropp (Loras) over Darian Diaz (Dubuque) (MD 8-0) 7 8
157 - #1 Zeke Smith (Loras) over Luke Radeke (Dubuque) (TF 19-4 7:00) 12 8
165 - Matt Connolly (Loras) over Thomas McCreadie (Dubuque) (Fall 6:45) 18 8
174 - Reymundo Raiz (Dubuque) over Tad Griffith (Loras) (Dec 6-1) 18 11
184 - #2 Shane Liegel (Loras) over Kurtis Modlin (Dubuque) (Fall 3:56) 24 11
197 - Tyler Thurston (Dubuque) over Derek Venteicher (Loras) (MD 8-0) 24 15
285 - Wyatt Wriedt (Loras) over Darryl Aiello (Dubuque) (Dec 2-1) 27 15

FINAL SCORE: #7 Loras College – 27, #20 University of Dubuque - 15