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

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. (Nov. 6, 2021) - Entering the season ranked No. 3 in the National Wresting Coaches Association Preseason Poll, the Loras College wrestling team opened their season on the campus of University of Wisconsin - Platteville in a five-team tournament with the University of Chicago, Cornell College, University of Dubuque, and UW-Platteville. The Duhawks put on a dominant performance with six wrestlers in Jalen Schropp, Daniel Ruiz, Gabe Fiser, Shane Liegel, Colin Murphy and Wyatt Wriedt. 

At 141 lbs., 2021 All-American Schropp opened the tournament against Cornell's Kyler Henderson and advanced with a 3:28 fall, going on to face Nate Boulton from UW-Platteville, who Schropp downed with a fall in 1:16. In the championship matchup, Schropp faced Zach Licht from Platteville, who Schropp defeated by pin fall to take win the weight class. 

Wrestling at 149 lbs., returning All-American Ruiz squared off against Platteville's Andrew Steinhardt who Ruiz made quick work of with a 25 second pin. Ruiz advanced to take on Cornell's Landon Card who Ruiz defeated by a 9-0 major decision to move on to face Traevin Osborn. Ruiz advanced to the championship matchup after defeating Osborn by a 10-2 major decision. Ruiz faced Daniel Meeker in the final round and came away with the win in the weight class by way of 3-2 decision. 

Fiser, an All-American at 165 lbs., opened up the weekend with a first-round bye before taking on Platteville's Owen Norman, winning on a 22-7 technical fall and advancing on to face Cornell's Gabe Carter. Fiser downed Carter by an 11-3 major decision to take on Nathan Wynsma from Platteville in the championship, taking the 165 lb. weight class victory on a sudden-victory win over Wynsma. 

2021 NWCA National Champion Liegel began the tournament with a first-round bye before taking on Cael Mclaren and winning by fall in 1:07. Liegel then went on Jacob Sklenar from Platteville where Liegel took a 13-3 major decision to advance to the final matchup. Liegel met Maguire Pecci from Chicago in the championship matchup where Liegel took the win by a 3-1 decision to win the 184 lb. weight class. 

Colin Murphy began his weekend against Cornell's Frank Milella where Murphy advanced on a 4:51 fall to swaure off against Jake LaMonto. Murphy downed LaMonto in a 5-3 decision to move on and face Tyler Thurston from cross-town rival University of Dubuque in the final round of the tournament where Murphy took the win by a 9-3 decision. 

Returning NWCA National Champion Wriedt took on Franco Fontela in the opening round of the 285 lb. weight class. Wriedt took a 9-1 major decision from Fontela to advance and face Luke Leranth from Platteville. Wriedt took down Leranth in 2:19 by pin fall before taking on Cole Fibranz from Chicago in the final round. Wriedt claimed the 285 lb. champion title with an 8-1 decision over Fibranz to secure the Duhawks' sixth champion of the day. 

The Duhawks return to the mats on Saturday, Nov. 13 in Decorah, Iowa as they compete in the Luther Open hosted by Luther College. The tournament is scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM.