Waverly, Iowa - For the 26th consecutive year, and 36th time in program history, the Wartburg College wrestling team has won the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Championship. The 2017-18 Knights went unbeaten in IIAC action finishing 8-0 to push their conference winning streak to 205 matches.
The No. 1 ranked Knights won nine of 10 matches vs. No. 5 Loras on their way to a 35-3 victory. Of Wartburg's nine victories, four came by way of bonus points.
Breenan Doebel got the home crowd into with a fall at 125lbs. to start the dual. At 133lbs. No.3
Brock Rathbun also picked up bonus points with a 15-2 major decision. At 157lbs. No.2
Logan Thomsen racked up a 19-2 technical fall and at 174lbs. senior and No. 1-ranked
Eric DeVos scored a 21-7 technical fall. Loras victory came at 141lbs., where
Kevin Kelly collected an 8-5 decision.
No.1 Wartburg (18-2 overall, 8-0 IIAC) – 35
No. 16 Loras (17-1 overall, 7-1 IIAC) – 3
Complete results:
125: Brennen Doebel (WB) win by fall at 6:06 vs. Matt Randone (LC) WB 6-0
133: #3 Brock Rathbun (WB) win by 15-2 maj dec vs. Michael Triplett (LC) WB 10-0
141: Kevin Kelly (LC) win by 8-5 dec vs. Brenden Baker (WB) WB 10-3
149: #1 Cross Cannone (WB) win by 8-2 dec vs. #5 Jimmy Davis (LC) WB 13-3
157: #2 Logan Thomsen (WB) win by 19-2 tech fall vs. Merrick Purcell (LC) WB 18-3
165: #1 Mike Ross (WB) win by 5-3 dec vs. Eddie Smith (LC) WB 21-3
174: #1 Eric DeVos (WB) win by 21-7 tech fall vs. Sam Schuler (LC) WB 26-3
184: #2 Tyler Lutes (WB) win by 12-5 dec vs. Awais Arain (LC) WB 29-3
197: #2 Kyle Fank (WB) win by 8-5 dec vs. #3 Guy Patron Jr (LC) WB 32-3
285: Bowen Wileman (WB) win by 11-8 dec vs. #5 Quin Gilliam (LC) WB 35-3
Wartburg opened Iowa Conference action back on November fourth with a 45-0 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan. The Knights finished November with a 38-10 dual win over Simpson and returned to league competition on January 11th with a 53-0 win over Luther. Wartburg picked up four more conference wins in January defeating Central 39-6, Dubuque 50-0, Buena Vista 54-0 and Coe 38-3. The Knight's undefeated conference dual season concluded with tonight's 35-3
win over No.5 Loras
In conference action, the Knights outscored their opposition 352 (does not include tonight) - 12 with three shutouts.
Wartburg and all of the Iowa Conference will take the mat on February 24th and 25th for NCAA Division III Lower Midwest Regional at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, Iowa. The Lower Midwest Regional will be hosted by Loras College.
