The Facts:
Score: No. 6 Roanoke 23, No.2 Augsburg 11
No. 6 Roanoke 19, No. 1 Wartburg 16
Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa - University of Northern Iowa's UNI-Dome
The short story: The No. 6 ranked Roanoke College wrestling team defeated the top two teams in the nation Saturday to win the NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships, hosted by the University of Northern Iowa.
After two wins against ranked opponents Friday, the Maroons downed No. 2 Augsburg 23-11 in the semifinals. RC led 9-8 against No. 1 Wartburg in the finals after five of the 10 matches, but
Cade Parent (7-5) at 165 pounds and
Xavier Preston (18-7) at 174 scored important victories to push the lead to 16-8.
Hunter Moore's 8-5 win at 197 sealed the dual match victory and the team championship.
A Place in History:
*Roanoke is just one of two schools to have won the event besides Augsburg or Wartburg since 2002, when it originated.
*Augsburg or Wartburg has won this event every year since 2002, aside from 2022 when UW-La Crosse won it (Augsburg and Wartburg both withdrew due to Covid results). The 2021 event was canceled due to the pandemic.
How it happened:
*
Mac Cafurello opened both matches with victories at 125 pounds, including a technical fall in the semifinals.
*Defending national champion
Mark Samuel was challenged in both contests at 141 but came out on top 4-1 vs. Augsburg and 5-2 in a sudden victory session against Wartburg.
*Preston won both of his matches Saturday, including a 10-4 win in the semifinals.
*Moore also won his earlier match 12-9 in sudden victory.
Up Next:
*The Maroons (10-0) return to Old Dominion Athletic Conference action Thursday, traveling to Shenandoah University Thursday at 7 p.m.
RC defeated Augsburg 23-11
Match #4 1st Place Match
RC defeated Wartburg 19-16
- 125 - Mac Cafurello (RC) over Brett Birchman (Wartburg) Dec 5-0
- 133 - Patrick Mullen (Wartburg) over Jude Robson (RC) Dec 9-4
- 141 - Mark Samuel (RC) over Kade Blume (Wartburg) SV-1 5-2
- 149 - Taylor Smith (RC) over Caleb Olson (Wartburg) Dec 11-8
- 157 - Charlie Dojan (Wartburg) over Bailey Wilman (RC) TF 17-1
- 165 - Cade Parent (RC) over Aiden Brosinski (Wartburg) Dec 7-5
- 174 - Xavier Preston (RC) over Mike Slade (Wartburg) Maj 18-7
- 184 - Kasey Ross (Wartburg) over Brock Sullivan (RC) Maj 11-1
- 197 - Hunter Moore (RC) over Cal Dorota (Wartburg) Dec 8-5
- 285 - Mitch Williamson (Wartburg) over Nicholas Cook (RC) Maj 11-1
