Waverly, Iowa - One of the American Rivers Conference's best emerging rivalries ended convincingly today for the Wartburg College wrestling program. The Knights' 28-5 victory over Loras brought with it their 38th overall conference championship and their 28th in the last 29 seasons. Wartburg ended the A-R-C season at 8-0.

Loras, which defeated Nebraska Wesleyan in today's triangular meet here, has two conference duals left. They're big ones next Sunday against Central and Coe with second place in the standings possibly on the line versus the Kohawks.

Wartburg, which won the first seven weight classes, got out to a good start when 125-pounder Brady Kyner scored late to take a major decision, 11-3. Kyner ranks eighth nationally at the weight. The Knights extended the lead to 7-0 when Joe Pins took a 7-3 win at 133lbs. Kris Rumph, who ranks second nationally, won a 7-3 decision at 141, stretching the lead to 10-0.

A very good battle at 149 resulted in a 3-1 victory for 6th-ranked Brady Fritz over Loras's Zeke Smith. Another very tight match at 157 went to Wartburg's David Hollingsworth by a score of 6-5 over 5th-ranked Daniel Ruiz. The team score was 14- (minus)1 after both squads were assessed a one-point team penalty.

Wartburg got a 14-4 major decision out of 165-pounder Zane Mulder. One of the more anticipated matches of the day was at 174 pounds where 2nd-ranked Kyle Briggs of Wartburg faced off against 7th-ranked Jacob Krakow. Briggs was impressive in an 8-0 major decision that stretched the lead to 22- (minus)1.

Shane Liegel, Loras's 184-pounder who ranks fourth nationally, recorded the only fall of the dual, pinning his opponent in 4 minutes, 2 seconds. The Duhawks entered the final two matches down 22-5.

Kobe Woods, ranked sixth nationally, won a 7-2 decision at 197lbs. Another big nationally ranked match took place at heavyweight where 2nd-ranked Jordan Brandon defeated 5th-ranked Wyatt Wriedt, 6-2.

There is likely to be a national postseason opportunity for the teams in the A-R-C. The National Wrestling Coaches Association announced on its website it will conduct a Division III national invitational on March 12 and 13 with the rumored site being the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. More details are expected early this week.

#1/2 Wartburg (8-1, 8-0 A-R-C) - 28
#8/9 Loras (5-3, 5-1 A-R-C) - 5

125 #8 Brady Kyner (WAR) over Aiden Evans (LC) MD 11-3 4-0
133 Joe Pins (WAR) over #10 Zach Licht (LC) Dec. 7-3 7-0
141 #2 Kris Rumph (WAR) over Jalen Schropp (LC) Dec. 7-3 10-0
149 #6 Brady Fritz (WAR) over Zeke Smith (LC) Dec. 3-1 12-0*
157 David Hollingsworth (WAR) vs. #5 Daniel Ruiz (LC) Dec. 6-5 14 - -1**
165 #3 Zane Mulder (WAR) vs. Tad Griffith (LC) MD 14-4 18 - -1
174 #2 Kyle Briggs (WAR) vs. #7 Jacob Krakow (LC) MD 8-0 22 - -1
184 #4 Shane Liegel (LC) over Cael Krueger (WAR) Fall 4:02 22-5
197 #6 Kobe Woods (WAR) over Brady Vogel (LC) Dec. 7-2 25-5
HWT #2 Jordon Brandon (WAR) over #5 Wyatt Wriedt (LC) Dec. 6-2 28-5

*Wartburg deducted a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct at 149lbs. 
*Wartburg deducted a team point at 157 lbs. for unsportsmanlike conduct
*Loras deducted a team point for mat control at 157lbs.
*Individual rankings based off latest NWCA/D3wrestle.com polls (top ranking listed)
 

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