Over the weekend, the Men’s Wrestling team competed in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Duals. The Tigers took on University of Jamestown, Dakota Wesleyan University and Morningside University, winning all three duals.
To kick things off against Jamestown, junior Hunter Bennett won 14-3 at 125. Doane dropped a match at 133, but came back courtesy of sophomore Matthew Terrence at 141, who got a pin in just over a minute.
Senior Nate Lendt pinned his opponent at 149 in 29 seconds, tying his school record for the fastest pin at that weight class. Junior Benjamin Dobler picked up a 7-5 win at 157 and sophomore Benjamin Miller secured the pin at 165 in 1:33.
Senior Michael Scarponi took home a forfeit win at 174 and sophomore Tyson Beauperthuy got another pin for the Tigers at 184. Senior Kasten Grape won the 197 weight class with a tech fall of 19-4. Freshman Eli Criblez got the last pin of the day in the heavyweight division. Doane won the first dual 48-4.
The Tigers then moved on to take on Dakota Wesleyan University. Senior Nathan Rizek opened the second dual with an 11-4 win at 125 for the Tigers. Sophomore Devin Avedissian went 5-0 at 133.
DWU grabbed a win at 141, but Doane jumped right back on top at 149 with a 7-3 win from Lendt. Miller added on to the victories at 157 with an 8-3 win. DWU picked up another win at 165, but three forfeits put the Tigers back on top. The match rounded out with a win from Criblez in the heavyweight.
After defeating DWU 33-8, the final opponent for Doane was Morningside University. Rizek kicked things off with a 16-0 win, followed by another victory from Avedissian by forfeit. Similarly to the dual against Dakota Wesleyan, the match afterwards was dropped by Doane.
Lendt pushed the Tigers back on top with a pin in 34 seconds, and Dobler snagged another victory in overtime. The next two matches were won by Morningside, but Beauperthuy put an end to their run with a win at 184.
Junior Bradley Antesberger grabbed a forfeit win at 197 before Criblez fell in the final match of the day. These three wins ensure that Doane has secured at least part of the GPAC title.
The Men’s Wrestling team will be home on Feb. 3 to host Concordia University in their final home dual.