CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The No. 1-ranked Wartburg College men's wrestling team finished as national runner-up at the NWCA Division III National Duals, advancing past No. 4 The College of New Jersey in the semifinals before dropping a tightly contested 19–16 decision to No. 6 Roanoke College in the championship dual at the UNI-Dome.

Wartburg's appearance in the title match marked its 21st finals showing at the NWCA National Duals, the most by any program. The Knights have reached the finals in every season since the tournament's inception in 2002, with the only exceptions coming in 2019 and 2023.

Wartburg opened with a 24–15 semifinal victory over TCNJ, followed by a narrow setback against Roanoke. The loss was just the 10th in NWCA National Duals history for Wartburg, which now owns an 81–10 all-time record in the event.

Against TCNJ, the Knights mounted an impressive comeback after trailing through the first four bouts. Kade Blume sparked the rally with a 2–1 decision at 141, and Caleb Olson followed with a 4–2 decision at 149 to cut the deficit to three. Charlie Dojan swung the momentum at 157, recording a pivotal 13–3 major decision to give Wartburg its first lead of the dual, 10–9.

Aiden Brosinski added a critical 1–0 decision at 165, while Kasey Ross extended the advantage with a dominant 19–3 technical fall at 184, sending the Knights into the final bout ahead 18–15. Mitch Williamson then sealed the semifinal victory, pinning TCNJ's Matthew Coon in 3:52 to secure Wartburg's spot in the championship.

In the title match, Wartburg and Roanoke traded momentum throughout the dual. Roanoke opened with a 5–0 decision at 125, but Patrick Mullen responded for the Knights with a 9–4 decision at 133 to even the score. The Maroons regained the edge with a sudden-victory decision at 141 and an 11–8 decision at 149.

Wartburg answered again at 157, as Dojan delivered another dominant performance with a 17–1 technical fall to pull the Knights within one. Roanoke countered with narrow decisions at 165 and a major decision at 174 to seize the Knights momentum. 

The Knights stayed within striking distance when Ross posted an 11–1 major decision at 184, but Roanoke added a key decision at 197. Williamson closed the dual with an 11–1 major decision at heavyweight, though Roanoke ultimately held on for the 19–16 victory.
 
UP NEXT
Wartburg heads out to Mount Vernon, Iowa to take part in the Cornell Invite set for Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
MATCH #3 SEMIFINAL – NO. 1 WARTBURG 24, #4 TCNJ 15
125 - Matt Griffin (TCNJ) over James Levy (Wartburg) TF 19-4
133 - Garrett Totten (TCNJ) over Patrick Mullen (Wartburg) Maj 11-3
141 - Kade Blume (Wartburg) over Vincent Santaniello (TCNJ) Dec 2-1
149 - Caleb Olson (Wartburg) over Jason Giordano (TCNJ) Dec 4-2
157 - Charlie Dojan (Wartburg) over Jackson Bush (TCNJ) Maj 13-3
165 - Aiden Brosinski (Wartburg) over Jordan Ayyash (TCNJ) Dec 1-0
174 - Hunter Mays (TCNJ) over Mike Slade (Wartburg) Dec 8-3
184 - Kasey Ross (Wartburg) over Luke Theis (TCNJ) TF 19-3
197 - DJ Henry (TCNJ) over Cal Dorota (Wartburg) Dec 5-1
285 - Mitch Williamson (Wartburg) over Matthew Coon (TCNJ) Fall 3:52
 
MATCH #4 CHAMPIONSHIP – NO. 6 ROANOKE 19, NO. 1 WARTBURG 16
125 - Mac Cafurello (Roanoke College) over Brett Birchman (Wartburg) Dec 5-0
133 - Patrick Mullen (Wartburg) over Jude Robson (Roanoke College) Dec 9-4
141 - Mark Samuel (Roanoke College) over Kade Blume (Wartburg) SV-1 5-2
149 - Taylor Smith (Roanoke College) over Caleb Olson (Wartburg) Dec 11-8
157 - Charlie Dojan (Wartburg) over Bailey Wilman (Roanoke College) TF 17-1
165 - Cade Parent (Roanoke College) over Aiden Brosinski (Wartburg) Dec 7-5
174 - Xavier Preston (Roanoke College) over Mike Slade (Wartburg) Maj 18-7
184 - Kasey Ross (Wartburg) over Brock Sullivan (Roanoke College) Maj 11-1
197 - Hunter Moore (Roanoke College) over Cal Dorota (Wartburg) Dec 8-5
285 - Mitch Williamson (Wartburg) over Nicholas Cook (Roanoke College) Maj 11-1