ST. LOUIS, Mo. – In their final tune up before the NCAA Super Region II Championships, the King University men's wrestling team faced a tough schedule at the Maryville University Lombardi Duals. The Tornado faced a pair of top 10 teams, falling to #4 Ouachita Baptist University 39-9 and #8 McKendree University 33-16 before dropping a 37-6 decision to the University of Indianapolis.
King fell behind eighth-ranked Ouachita Baptist 13-0 before Landon Reed got King on the board with a win by fall over Tanner Bailey in 6:58 at 149 pounds. The Tigers then won five straight bouts before Garrett Fosdyck earned a 3-2 decision win over Blake Andrews at 285 pounds to make the final score 39-9 in favor of Ouachita Baptist.
Jon Boatman got King off to a solid start in their next match with a 10-0 major decision at 125 pounds over Steve Murphy of McKendree to give the Tornado a 4-0 lead. However, King forfeited at 133 pounds, and the Bearcats took an 11-10 decision at 141 pounds to take the lead. Reed then answered for the Tornado, earning a win by fall in 3:47 over Trent Williams at 149 pounds to regain the lead for King. The teams then traded forfeits before the Bearcats went on a run, earned back-to-back wins by fall to regain the lead, en route to the 33-16 victory.
In the nightcap, Indianapolis quickly jumped out to a 10-0 lead after the first two weight class, but Frank Yattoni IV got King on the board with an 8-2 decision over Angelo Robles at 141 pounds. The Greyhounds then won six straight bouts before Fosdyck capped the dual with a 6-1 win over Jared Boehm at 285 pounds for the Tornado. However, Indianapolis ultimately took the dual 37-6.
King will be in action again February 27-28 at the NCAA Super Region II Championships at UNC Pembroke in Pembroke, N.C.
