The nationally ranked Roanoke College wrestling team defeated the top two teams in the nation Saturday to win the NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships, hosted by the University of Northern Iowa.
After two wins against ranked opponents Friday, the sixth ranked Maroons downed second ranked Augsburg, 23-11, in the semifinals. RC led just 9-8 against number one Wartburg in the finals after five of the 10 matches, but Cade Parent (7-5) at 165 pounds and Xavier Preston (18-7) at 174 scored important victories to push the lead to 16-8. Hunter Moore’s 8-5 win at 197 sealed the dual match victory and the team championship.
Roanoke is just one of two schools to have won this event besides Augsburg or Wartburg since 2002, when it originated. Augsburg or Wartburg has won this event every year since aside from 2022 when UW-La Crosse won it. Augsburg and Wartburg both withdrew due to Covid results that year and the 2021 event was canceled due to the pandemic.
Mac Cafurello opened both matches with victories at 125 pounds, including a technical fall in the semifinals. Defending national champion Mark Samuel was challenged in both contests at 141 but came out on top 4-1 against Augsburg and 5-2 in a sudden victory session against Wartburg. Preston won both of his matches Saturday, including a 10-4 win in the semifinals, and Moore also won his earlier match 12-9 in sudden victory.
The Maroons (10-0) return to Old Dominion Athletic Conference tonight, Thursday, traveling to Shenandoah University for a 7 pm start.
