A little snow didn't stop more than 300 fans from piling into Gosser Gymnasium Friday night to support the Campbellsville University Tigers in their first home wrestling dual of the season. While the ninth-ranked Tigers jumped out to an 18-3 lead, it wasn't enough to hold off No. 6 McKendree University, who slipped out of town with a 20-18 win.

Though McKendree cut the lead down to 18-12 after a close decision at 174 pounds, the match was still the Tigers for the taking. That was until seventh-ranked Tanner Wolk scored five unanswered points over sixth-ranked Spencer Adams to close the first period of the 184-pound match with a 7-3 lead. He went on to win by major decision, 13-3 and pull the duel within two points with one match to go.

Defending national champion Andrew Sanchez put the match away for the Bearcats with a 12-3 major decision over redshirt freshman Diante Wright in the 197-pound division.

The match began at the heavyweight division, as Jeremiah Fennell used an escape and take down to defeat Chas Maloch, ranked No. 12 in the NAIA, in a 5-2 overtime decision. Because of a McKendree forfeit at 125 pounds, Campbellsville began with a 9-0 lead.

Tommy Pretty, ranked No. 1 at 133 pounds, lost a close decision to sixth-ranked Wade Lowe, 5-4, after a late escape point by Lowe. While the loss tossed a wrinkle in the Tigers' lead, 9-3, CU followed with two big wins.

Matt David, filling in for nationally ranked wrestler Jacob Murton, knocked off 2009 All-American Kyle Williams, 12-8, in the 141-pound match to distance the lead. Nick Waldrop picked up a big pin for the Tigers at 149 pounds with 19 seconds remaining in the second period, taking down Josh Burns in a time of 4:41.

But from there on, it was all McKendree, which improves to 8-5 in duals and extends its win streak to four.

Campbellsville, which is now 3-5 in duals, will host the first-ever Mid-South Conference Duels on Feb. 6.


PHOTO GALLERY


RESULTS
285 - Jeremiah Fennell (CU) dec. Chas Maloch, 5-2 3OT
125 - Johnny Papesh (CU) forfeit
133 - Wade Lowe (McK) dec. Tommy Pretty (CU), 5-4
141 - Matt David (CU) dec. Kyle Williams (McK), 12-8
149 - Nick Waldrop (CU) pin John Burns (McK), 4:41
157 - Isiah Gonzalez (McK) dec. Conor Young (CU), 7-5
165 - David Dwyer (McK) dec. James Linker (CU), 11-5
174 - Josh Bryant (McK) dec. Bryan Wells (CU), 8-7
184 - Tanner Wolk (McK) major dec. Spencer Adams (CU), 13-3
197 - Andrew Sanchez (McK) major dec. Diante Wright (CU),12-3