ROANOKE, Va. (Mar. 12, 2023) - Day two is now in the books and the season for wrestling is over, and the Loras College wrestling team had something to prove on the final day of competition at the NCAA Division III National Championships as seniors Shane Liegel and Zeke Smith were both looking for national title matches.

In Smith's semifinal matchup he went in aggressive took a couple of shots, but there was nothing to show for it in the first three periods. The match with second-seeded Nolan Hertel from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse went into overtime where Smith, the third-seeded wrestler in the 157-lb bracket, fell in sudden victory to the eventual National Champion. Smith was still alive as he headed to the third-place match where he fell 16-5 to Jake Deguire of Springfield College. 

Smith ends his senior campaign with 16 wins, four of them being falls with right by decision, two by major and two by tech falls as he claims All-America status and places fourth at this year's national championship.

Liegel faced a tough opponent in the semifinal round where it was a battle for the full seven minutes. Liegel, the second-seeded grappler, had a takedown early in the match to put him up by two over Bentley Schwanebeck-Ostermann, the sixth-seeded wrestler from Augsburg College. It was a back-and-forth match, but late in the second period Liegel had a quick escape and a smooth takedown to put him out of reach for his opponent to score points in the match. With the 10-5 win by decision, Liegel was headed to the national championship match later that night.  

The stage was set for Liegel as the 184-pounder stepped up to the challenge along with his opponent, a familiar face in top-seeded Jaritt Shinhoster from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, as the two shared a 1-1 record on the year. A rubber match it was as Liegel was in and out for taking shots, but had nothing to show for it. He would get two escapes and would end up falling short at 9-2 in the championship match. Liegel would also earn All-America status and end his senior year with 34 wins, 17 by fall, 10 by decision, four by major decision, and three by tech fall.
 
The Duhawks finished the weekend with two All-Americans and earning 28.5 total team points.