DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The eighth-ranked Loras wrestling team put on a clinic Saturday at the 2019 NCAA Division III Wrestling Lower Midwest Regional at the Five Flags Center. Of the 10 Duhawks to enter the tournament, eight advanced to the championship semifinals, needing one more win to earn a trip to the national championships in two weeks in Roanoke, Va.
125# | Jake Hiles
Hiles opened his day with a 12-1 major decision over Buena Vista's Byron Fleming before his exit from the championship bracket following a fall against Eron Haynes of Nebraska Wesleyan. Once in the consolation bracket, Hiles recorded a 15-3 major decision against Dubuque's Aaron Black. Hiles opens Session III on Sunday against Connor Murphy of Luther. In the regular season, Hiles and Murphy did not meet.
133# | Brice Everson
Fresh off his win over reigning national champion Brock Rathbun in the final dual of the regular season, Everson performed as expected, opening with a 18-0 tech fall over Brandon Foster of Buena Vista. In the championship quarterfinals, Everson defeated Tyler Difiore of Luther by decision, 5-2. He opens on Sunday against Jaime Suarez of North Central.
141# | Clint Lembeck
As the No. 2 seed, Lembeck left little doubt in his result on Saturday, winning by fall over Luther's Kyle Clough in 2:10 and a 8-1 decision over Jevontae Yarbourgh of Dubuque. He opens on Sunday against Brady Fritz of Wartburg, who he pinned in the dual two weeks ago.
149# | Kevin Kelly
As one of the few newcomers to a new weight, Kelly held his own in the new arena, advancing to the championship semifinals with a pair of wins by decision. He opened with a 5-4 over Coe's Josh Gerke, followed up by a 7-2 decision over Anthony Rink of North Central. Kelly's day starts against Greg Krulis of Dubuque.
157# | Brandon Murray
Murray's day started a bit on the slower side than he originally anticipated, holding on for a 7-4 decision against Jacob Warren of Westminster. His opening win helped knock off the rust as Murray turned on the after-burners with a 16-1 tech fall against Teagan Miller of Luther. Murray's championship semifinal pits the New Jersey native against Bradan Birt of Millikin. When the two squared off at the Key City Classic in December, Murray won by decision, 8-6.
165# | Eddie Smith
Seeded second, Smith was the only Loras wrestlers to not concede a point on Saturday, winning both of his matches by bonus points in the process. Smith's day began with a 15-0 tech fall over Augustana's Neil O'Shaughnessy before a 9-0 major decision against Danny Harris of North Central. Cornell's Ben Hewson awaits Smith in the semifinal, with a bid to nationals on the line. In their regular season meeting, Smith won the defensive battle, 1-0.
174# | Jacob Krakow
Wrestling in his first regional, Krakow had himself a day, winning first by tech fall against Ndayambaje John of Ozarks, 17-1, and followed with a hard-fought 3-1 decision aginst North Central's Cam Hayes, who was seeded third in the bracket. Sunday begins with a mammoth showdown between Krakow and Coe's Jake Voss, who is the No. 2 seed and won both of his Saturday matches by tech fall, 15-0 and 16-0.
184# | Sam Schuler
Schuler's day on the mat did not go as well as one would've hoped, with the senior getting upset in the opening round by fall. In the consolation bracket, Schuler scored team points for the Duhawks with a 16-1 tech fall against Cody Dixon of Huntingdon. Unfortunately for Schuler, his tournament came to an end after a 10-1 major decision at the hands of Dylan Huntoon from Buena Vista.
197# | Guy Patron Jr.
As Loras' lone top-seeded wrestler, Patron Jr. sat atop his perch and plucked away his opponents on Saturday. The Harvey, La. native ended both of his matches in the opening period, first with a fall against Kodie Bellury of Westminster before a 16-1 tech fall against Luther's Hunter Weaver. Awaint Patron Jr. in the semifinal is Taylor Mehman from Coe, who Patron Jr. defeated by tech fall, 17-1, at the American Rivers Conference Duals.
285# | Quin Gilliam
Last year's regional champion set out on a path of destruction with his sixth and seventh falls this season. In fact, seven of his eight wins this season have come via fall. Standing between Gilliam and a bid to nationals is top-seeded and top-ranked Adarios Jones of Augustana. Historically, Jones is 4-0 against Gilliam with three of the four wins coming by decision and of those three, two by a single point.
UP NEXT
Action starts at 11 a.m. from inside the Five Flags Center. After two sessions, Loras is second in the team race, trailing Wartburg by 5.5 points.
