Contact: Nathan Cameron, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7243

Nov. 1, 2021 - With five days until their return the mat in the Super 8 Invite hosted by University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Saturday, Nov. 6, the Loras College wrestling team enters the 2021-22 campaign ranked No. 3 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Preseason Poll. Highlighting the Duhawks' top-five ranking is 2021 NWCA National Champion Shane Liegel, who earned a No. 1 ranking individually in the 184 lb. weight class. 

The Duhawks boast eight returning 2021 NWCA All-Americans this season with five receiving individual national rankings in Daniel Ruiz at 149 lbs., Gabe Fiser at 165 lbs., Jacob Krakow at 174 lbs., Liegel at 184 lbs., and Wyatt Wriedt at 285 lbs.

Ruiz, a senior from Madera, Calif., received a No. 6 ranking at the 149 lb. weight class after being named NWCA All-American and American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) All-Conference at the 157 lb. weight class in 2021 where he placed seventh at the NWCA National Championship and amassed a 9-6 overall record on the season. 

Fiser, a junior from Grundy, Va., received a No. 8 ranking at the 165 lb. weight class after compiling a record of 8-5 last season, capped off with an All-American performance at the NWCA National Championship where he finished fourth in his weight class to achieve All-American status as well as being named A-R-C All-Conference. 

Krakow, a senior from Marengo Valley, Iowa, enters the season ranked No. 4 at the 174 lb. weight class where he finished the season with a 12-3 record, compiling four falls on the year and finishing third at the NWCA National Championship in his weight class to earn his third All-American honor of his career while also being named to the A-R-C All-Conference team. 

Returning NWCA National Champion Liegel, a junior from Spring Green, Wis., clocked in at No. 1 in the 184 lb. weight class after a dominant 2020-21 campaign for the Duhawks where he finished the season 14-1, recording four technical falls, four decisions, one major decision and six falls. The junior finished first in his class at the NWCA National Championship to achieve All-American status as well as earning NWCA Scholar All-American honors, was named A-R-C MVP, A-R-C Academic All-Conference, and CoSIDA Academic All-District and CoSIDA Academic All-American. 

Another NWCA National Champion in Wriedt returns to the mats this season for the Duhawks, entering the year ranked No. 3 in the 285 lb. weight class. Wriedt, a junior from Eldridge, Iowa finished the year with a 9-3 record, posting two wins via fall, one major decision and one decision. At the NWCA National Championship, Wriedt earned All-American honors with his National Champion finish and earned All-Conference nods by the A-R-C. 

A-R-C rival Wartburg College was ranked No. 1 by the NWCA in the preseason poll while Wabash College recied at No. 2 ranking. Behind the Duhawks in the No. 4 spot sits A-R-C foe Coe College, followed by John Carroll University, who enters the year ranked fifth. Stevens Institute of Technology received at No. 6 ranking followed by North Central College who checks in at seventh. Augsburg University received a No. 8 ranking while the top 10 was rounded out with a tie between Mount St. Joseph University and Millikin University, who enter the year tied for ninth. 

The Duhawks' season kicks off on Saturday, Nov. 6 as they make the short trip to Platteville, Wis. to compete in the Super 8 Invite, hosted by UW-Platteville. The tournament is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM.