CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Southeastern University breezed past No. 15 Eastern Oregon, 30-8, before dispatching No. 4 University of the Cumberlands, 22-14, in a tense, back and forth match to go 2-0 in the first day of the NAIA NWCA National Duals.
SEU was powered by a pair of victories by the trio of Ryan Bennett (157), Graham Calhoun (174) and Gage Braun (285). The Fire recorded wins in the opening three bouts for an 11-0 early lead over the Mountaineers and went on for five more wins highlighted by Trace Braun (165) and Calhoun's tech fall in the first match-up.
In the quarterfinals, SEU and No. 4 University of the Cumberlands split the first eight individual match-ups and the Patriots held a one-point, 14-13, edge. At 197, Gentry Smith scored a pair of first-period takedowns and never trailed in a 7-3 decision and put the Fire back on top, 16-14.
Gage Braun sealed the meeting of two of the top four teams in the national poll in a big way. The heavyweight took down the Patriots' Austin Silva twice in the first frame. On his second takedown in the second period Braun turned it into a fall at 4:37 to clinch the 22-14 team victory.
With the win over Cumberlands, SEU (7-0) prepares for a battle with the top-ranked Grand View in the NAIA NWCA National Duals semifinals. The two top-tier foes take to the mat on Saturday morning at 12 p.m. EST.
SEU meets Grand View for the second time in program history. The Vikings prevailed in the 2017 meeting by a 32-9 final. A potential rematch of the heavyweight National Championship bout from 2022 will happen when SEU's Gage Braun faces Grand View's Greg Hagan.
Southeastern defeated Eastern Oregon University (OR), 30-8
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125 - Brodie Christmas (SEU) over Jack Eylar (EOU) Dec 8-7 – SEU 3-0
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133 - No. 11 Andrew Voiles (SEU) over Luciano Fasulo (EOU) Maj 17-4 – SEU 7-0
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141 - No. 5 Kael Brisker (SEU) over Cole Cross (EOU) Maj 14-4 – SEU 11-0
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149 - Jaxon Morlan (EOU) over No. 18 Mario De La Torre (SEU) TF 21-6 – SEU 11-5
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157 - No. 17 Ryan Bennett (SEU) over John Rudebaugh (EOU) Dec 8-5 – SEU 14-5
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165 - No. 3 Trace Braun (SEU) over No. 15 Michael Fox (EOU) TF 19-4 – SEU 19-5
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174 - No. 2 Graham Calhoun (SEU) over Treven Hokland (EOU) TF 18-2 – SEU 24-5
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184 - No. 3 Kyle Knudtson (EOU) over Jeffrey Geller (SEU) Dec 8-6 – SEU 24-8
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197 - No. 19 Trillyon Fils-Aime (SEU) over No. 12 Eric Karas (EOU) Dec 4-0 – SEU 27-8
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285 - No. 3 Gage Braun (SEU) over No. 8 Nico Rodriguez (EOU) Dec 5-0 – SEU 30-8
Southeastern defeated University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), 22-14
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125 - No. 12 Matteo Vargo (UC) over Brodie Christmas (SEU) Maj 17-7 – UC 4-0
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133 - No. 9 Aaron Lucio (SEU) over No. 7 Chandlar Akins (UC) Maj 10-1 – Tie 4-4
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141 - No. 8 Gage Hudson (UC) over Drew Jones (SEU) Maj 12-0 – UC 8-4
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149 - No. 11 Chris Kelly (SEU) over No. 8 Ty Lehman (UC) Dec 4-1 – UC 8-7
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157 - No. 17 Ryan Bennett (SEU) over Malachia Harris (UC) Dec 10-4 – SEU 10-8
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165 - No. 7 Turner Black (UC) over No. 3 Trace Braun (SEU) Dec 8-7 – UC 11-10
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174 - No. 2 Graham Calhoun (SEU) over No. 9 Dylan Preston (UC) Dec 8-2 – SEU 13-11
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184 - No. 7 Thomas Ketchen-Carter (UC) over Jeffrey Geller (SEU) Dec 3-0 – UC 14-13
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197 - No. 10 Gentry Smith (SEU) over No. 17 Greyson Stevens (UC) Dec 7-3 – SEU 16-14
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285 - No. 3 Gage Braun (SEU) over Austin Silva (UC) Fall 4:37 – SEU 22-14
