CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa. – On the first day of the NWCA National Duals, the No. 8-ranked University of Indianapolis wrestling suffered a pair of losses at the hands of No. 17 Augustana and No. 1 West Liberty.
 
INS & OUTS
The Hounds started out their tournament against No. 17-ranked Augustana. The Vikings built a large lead on the Hounds early, capturing extra point wins at 125, 133 and 141 to put them up 16-0. No. 6-ranked Jackson Hoover landed a decision at 149, scoring five third-period points to win 8-6 and get the Hounds on the board.
 
Owen Zablocki, sliding down from 165 to 157 for the first time this season, didn't lose a step at all, grabbing a fall a minute and 44 seconds into his match with his patented spladle. The pair of Hounds' wins moved the score 16-9, but another extra point victory for Augustana at 165 kept UIndy at bay. No. 6-ranked Trey Sizemore was the last Greyhound to taste victory, capturing a major over Coy Gunderson.
 
#17 AUGUSTANA: 31, #8 UINDY 13
125 - Jaxson Rohman over Nathan Smith Maj 12-0
133 - Jack Huffman over Nick Varanelli Fall 1:53
141 - Hunter Burnett over Ray Rioux Fall 4:30
149 - Jackson Hoover over Cael Larson Dec 8-6
157 - Owen Zablocki over Payton Handevidt Fall 1:44
165 - Tyler Wagener over Logan Farnell TF 18-1
174 - Trey Sizemore over Coy Gunderson Maj 14-2
184 - Cade Mueller over Owen Butler TF 16-1
197 - Max Ramberg over Phoenix Rodgers Maj 14-0
285 - Max Balow over Jay Thompson Fall 1:34
 
Now in the consolation bracket, the Hounds matched up with No. 1-ranked West Liberty, who had been dropped in their first-round match by No. 18 Northern State. Nathan Smith got the upset-hungry Hounds going early, snagging a 15-0 tech fall at 125. The Hilltoppers matched that with a fall at 133, and then wins at 141 and 149, the latter coming via major in a battle of No. 5 vs. No. 6.
 
Zablocki, attempting to calm the momentum of the No. 1-ranked squad, did just that, spladling West Liberty's Jordan Watters in the second period. Sizemore kept the fire going, picking up his second extra-point win with a late pin to make it 17-16 in the Hounds favor. But a fall at 184 and decision at 197 put the match out of the Greyhounds reach. Jay Thompson captured victory at heavyweight to round out the match. 
 
#1 WEST LIBERTY 25, #8 UINDY 20
125 - Nathan Smith over Alexander Crane TF 15-0
133 - Matt Englehardt over Nick Varanelli Fall 1:08
141 - Khyvon Grace over Ray Rioux Dec 5-4
149 - Nico Taddy over Jackson Hoover Maj 9-1
157 - Owen Zablocki over Jordan Watters Fall 4:20
165 - Alec Cook over Nathan Conley Dec 7-2
174 - Trey Sizemore over Fabian Chavez Fall 5:57
184 - Ty McGeary over Aidan Petersen Fall 0:44
197 - Mason Christian over Phoenix Rodgers Dec 4-1
285 - Jay Thompson over Jamie Kilmer Dec 9-5

UP NEXT
The Hounds will look to bounce back tomorrow at NWCA National Duals. The Hounds will battle in-region and No. 20-ranked Ashland at 10 a.m. ET.