DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque men's wrestling team won their American Rivers Conference home debut on Saturday evening over the Nebraska Welseyan University Prairie Wolves 35-8. The Spartans started off slow by losing two out of three of the first matches and trailed the Prairie Wolves by an 8-3 margin. UD found their mojo at 149 lbs and clicked off seven consecutive wins to claim the home dual meet by a 35-8 final.

Tyler Klein (2-0) started the dual meet with a 14-10 decision at 125 lbs. He trailed in the first period 6-5, grabbed the lead in period two by a 9-6 score. Tanner Higa (2-3) trailed in the first period 6-5 at 133 lbs. He took the lead in the second period 13-8 and lost the lead in the third and the match 18-15. Jahaun Hicks-Reed lost the 141 lbs. match by a tech fall in 4:57 (19-4). Jesus Sanchez (149 lbs.) got the night rolling with a tech fall in 4:51 (21-5). Brett Back brought the crowd to their feet with a fall at 157 lbs. in 1:45. Kale Roth (165 lbs.) won by a major decision 15-5. He led 3-1 after the opening period and stretched it to a 15-5 final with 1:30 riding time. Zane Pannell (174 lbs.) Alecxander Robeson (184 lbs.) racked up 2:55 in riding time in the first period and led 6-0. He ended the match at the end of the second period 18-0 and finished with 4:36 riding time. Thomas McCreadie narrowly missed the fall as time expired, but came away with a 9-5 decision. Justin Matson (285 lbs.) captured the fall in just :29 seconds.

The Spartans wrestling team will host UW-Platteville Pioneers on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 4:00 p.m. in Stoltz Sports Center before taking some time off for Christmas break.