DESERT DUALS | WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17 | 8 AM 
Flamingo Ballrooms | Las Vegas, Nevada 
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LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The Wartburg men's and women's wrestling teams will host the 23rd annual Desert Duals on Wednesday, Dec. 17, inside the Flamingo Las Vegas ballrooms. Competition begins at 8 a.m. (PT) and will continue throughout the day on a rolling schedule. 

The Wartburg 1 men's squad opens the day against Manchester (2-0), continuing a series in which the Knights hold a 3-0 all-time advantage. The teams last met on Dec. 19, with Wartburg earning a 44-6 victory. The Knights will then face Vanguard (0-2) in the programs' first-ever meeting before closing the day against Menlo (2-0). Wartburg owns a 4-0 series lead over Menlo, including a 35-3 win in the most recent matchup on Dec. 19, 2006. 

On the women's side, the Wartburg 1 squad begins action against No. 8 Simon Fraser (4-1). The Knights and Red Leafs last met at the 2024 Desert Duals, where Wartburg claimed a 26-19 win over the top-10 opponent. Wartburg will then square off with No. 5 Colorado Mesa (3-2) for the third consecutive season, seeking its first dual victory over the Mavericks. The Knights conclude the day with a first-time matchup against No. 3 Grand Valley State (2-0).  

Nineteen programs from across the country will be represented in the men's and women's divisions, including several nationally-ranked teams: Manchester, Linfield, Vanguard, Menlo, Arizona Christian, Hope, Utah Tech, Washington State, Pacific, Concordia Wisconsin, Snow College, Colorado Mesa, Simon Fraser, Albion, Presbyterian, Grand Valley State, and UNLV, along with Wartburg.  

The Wartburg men enter the event at 3-0 overall and sit atop the latest NWCA/NCAA Tournament Coaches' Poll, while the Wartburg women are also unbeaten at 3-0 and hold steady at No. 16.  
A full schedule of rounds can be found in the event program.  
 
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS – MEN 
#10 Brett Birchman – 125 lbs 
#9 Aiden Crawley – 133 lbs 
#5 Kade Blume – 141 lbs 
#1 Charlie Dojan – 157 lbs 
#9 Aiden Brosinski – 165 lbs 
#10 Mike Slade – 174 lbs 
#2 Kasey Ross – 184 lbs 
#8 Cal Dorota – 197 lbs 
#1 Mitch Williamson – 285 lbs 
 
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS - WOMEN 
#8 Kylie Rule – 138 lbs 
#6 Rewa Chababo – 207 lbs 
 
2024 DESERT DUALS RECAP 
On the men's side, Wartburg went a perfect 3–0 in dual competition, opening with decisive wins over Concordia Wisconsin (49–6) and Marymount (50–3) before closing the day with a 54–0 shutout of Pacific. 

The Wartburg women finished 2–1 at the Desert Duals, highlighted by victories over No. 20 Schreiner (31–16) and No. 8 Simon Fraser (26–19), before narrowly falling to No. 6 Colorado Mesa, 22–21, in the finale. 

LAST TIME OUT 
Last time out, the Wartburg men delivered a dominant performance from start to finish, building an early advantage and never relenting. The Knights picked up bonus points in eight bouts, highlighted by pins from Aiden Crawley at 133 pounds and Mitch Williamson at heavyweight. Wartburg added six technical falls across the lineup and closed the dual with a convincing team victory, allowing just one decision loss on the night. 

The Wartburg women took part in the BVU Women's Open on Dec. 6, posting multiple top-four finishes and bonus point wins. Jacey Mason's runner-up finish at 103 pounds, where she totaled 17.5 team points behind a technical fall and a first-period pin. The Knights produced multiple placewinners throughout the lineup, including fourth-place efforts from Lainey Shelangoski (103), Ava Gardner (110), Jasmine Luedtke (117), and Sophie Bowers (124).

Gardner opened the tournament with two technical falls, while Luedtke posted a pin, decision, and technical fall to reach the semifinals. Additional bonus-point performances came from Carissa Hersom, Leah Chandler, and Cailyn Whittier, as Wartburg added a pair of sixth-place finishes at 145 pounds from Izzy Giza and Alex Harswick, highlighted by Giza's first-period fall. 
   
KELLER REACHES 250-WIN MILESTONE AT WARTBURG 
In his 16th season leading the program, head coach Eric Keller reached a historic milestone by securing his 250th career victory as the Knights rolled to a commanding 43-3 win over No. 10 Luther on Dec. 5. 
  
LAST SEASON… 
Wartburg enters the season coming off another historic year in 2024, highlighted by two individual national champions — including returning heavyweight Mitchell Williamson, who became just the third HWT national champion in program history.  
 
The Knights captured their 16th team national title, extending their streak to 30 consecutive years with at least one individual national champion. Wartburg's national championship squad scored 83.5 points behind just six qualifiers.  
 
On the women's side, the Knights finished with a 7-3 overall record, capturing the inaugural American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Championship and the Division III Invite title in East Moline, Ill. Wartburg also placed runner-up at the NCWWC Regionals in Indianola before a 22nd team-finish at nationals. 
 
The program set a school record with 14 NWCA Scholar All-Americans, while 10 wrestlers earned All-Conference recognition. Returning standout Jasmine Luedtke was named A-R-C Rookie of the Year. 
  
NATIONAL STATUS  
Wartburg has appeared at the NCAA Championships 46 times – four-straight seasons and fourth-best amongst Division III programs. 
  
A-R-C Men's Wrestling Preseason Poll  
1. Wartburg - 64 (8)  
2. Coe - 55 (1)  
3. Loras - 52   
4. Central - 39  
5. Luther - 37  
6. Univ. of Dubuque - 32  
7. Nebraska Wesleyan - 20  
8. Simpson - 17  
9. Buena Vista - 8   
 
A-R-C Women's Wrestling Preseason Poll  
1. Wartburg - 35 (5) 
2. Simpson - 29 (1) 
3. Univ. of Dubuque - 27 (1) 
4. Buena Vista - 20 
5. Central - 16 
6. Loras - 12 
7. Luther - 8