(LEBANON, Tenn., November 3)- The No. 4 McKendree University wrestling team opened up its dual match schedule with a win on Wednesday, with  a 26-18 win at No. 5 Cumberland University (Tenn.).

The Bearcats, now 1-0 overall this season, travel to Ypsilanti, Mich., on Saturday for the Eastern Michigan University Open. The event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

After starting the dual trailing 6-0 due to a forfeit at 125 pounds, the Bearcats won four straight matches to take a 19-6 lead. Senior Wade Lowe (Godfrey, Ill., Alton), the top ranked NAIA wrestler at 133 pounds, earned a 9-4 decision win over Joshua Chappa to cut the deficit to 6-3 and junior Kyle Williams (Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Mascoutah), ranked No. 5 at 141 pounds, pinned Dexter Bushart in 2:16 to give McKendree a 9-6 lead.

Senior Ryan Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill., Bolingbrook), ranked No. 4 at 149 pounds, earned a major decision over Andy Shoultz, 9-0, to push the Bearcats lead to 13-6, before freshman Josh Ballard (Troy, Ill., Triad) pinned No. 9 David Wiese at the 3:31 mark to take a 19-6 lead.

Back-to-back decision losses by McKendree at 165 and 174 pounds let Cumberland back in the match, 19-12, but a decision win by sophomore Kyle Reid (Belleville, Ill., Belleville East), ranked No. 7 in the NAIA, over No. 5 James Casadaban gave McKendree a 10 point lead with two matches left. A loss by pinfall by McKendree at 197 pounds made the score 22-18, but a major decision win by sophomore Andrew Davis (Loves Park, Ill., Harlem) over Sam Andrade, 13-2, at heavyweight gave the Bearcats the 26-18 win.

MATCH RESULTS
125: Noah Hunt (CU) by forfeit  (0-6)
133: Wade Lowe (Godfrey, Ill./Alton) (MU) def. Joshua Chappa (CU) – D; 9-4 (3-6)
141: Kyle Williams (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) (MU) def. Dexter Bushart (CU) – F; 2:16 (9-6)
149: Ryan Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) (MU) def. Andy Shoultz (CU) – MD; 9-0 (13-6)
157: Josh Ballard (Troy, Ill./Triad) (MU) def. David Wiese (CU) – F; 3:31 (19-6)
165: Zeke Hunt (CU) def. Isaiah Gonzalez (Montgomery, Ill./Montini Catholic) (MU) – D; 5-4TB2 (19-9)
174: Corey Bleaken (CU) def. Kyle Hanner (Wood River, Ill./East Alton-Wood River) (MU) – D; 15-8 (19-12)
184: Kyle Reid (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East) (MU) def. James Casadaban (CU) – D; 5-2 (22-12)
197: AJ Mott (CU) def. Tanner Wolk (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./Ste. Genevieve) (MU) – F; 2:52 (22-18)
285: Andrew Davis (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) (MU) def. Sam Andrade (CU) – MD; 13-2 (26-18)