No. 9 AU Wrestlers Go 0-2 To End National Duals

On the second and final day of the 2026 NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the No. 9-ranked Ashland University wrestling team lost 39-11 to No. RV Minnesota State and 29-21 to No. 8 McKendree.
 
The Eagles are 4-5 in duals so far in 2025-26, and were 1-4 at the National Duals. AU finished 12^th at the Duals among the 16 NCAA Division II teams.
 
Ashland's three wins vs. Minnesota State were earned by No. 12-ranked junior 125-pounder Luke Acuna (9-5 win over Jacob Fitzpatrick), senior 165-pounder Nate Barrett (17-2 technical fall vs. No. 15-ranked Paolo Salminen), and No. 7-ranked senior 285-pounder Wyatt Bailey (8-2 decision against Joshua Gaye).
 
The Eagles' four wins in the McKendree dual came from Acuna (pinned Colton King in 54 seconds), junior 174-pounder Hayden Flynn (10-6 decision over Shamon Handegan), No. 14-ranked redshirt freshman 184-pounder Fletcher Rose (pinned Ridge Schutte in 2:15), and Bailey (forfeit).
 
Bailey ended the weekend at 5-0 (pin, tech fall, two decisions and a forfeit), and has earned a team-high 22 wins (22-8) so far this season.
  125 – Luke Acuna (AU) def. Jacob Fitzpatrick (MSU), 9-5 dec.
133 – Chase Beckett (MSU) def. Donovan Paes (AU), pin 4:50
141 – Colton Hush (MSU) def. Rylen Campbell (AU), pin 2:56
149 – Walker Bents (MSU) won by forfeit
157 – Caleb Meunier (MSU) def. Fernando Lopez (AU), pin 2:45
165 – Nate Barrett (AU) def. Paolo Salminen (MSU), 17-2 tech. fall
174 – Drake Hayward (MSU) def. Hayden Flynn (AU), pin 5:31
184 – Evan Farley (MSU) def. Fletcher Rose (AU), 4-2 dec.
197 – Grant Cook (MSU) def. Christopher Price (AU), pin 1:22
285 – Wyatt Bailey (AU) def. Joshua Gaye (MSU), 8-2 dec.
  125 – Luke Acuna (AU) def. Colton King (MCK), pin 0:54
133 – Giovanni Diaz (MCK) def. Donovan Paes (AU), 12-4 maj. dec.
141 – Bradley Ruckman (MCK) def. Rylen Campbell (AU), pin 6:24
149 – Caleb Lavine (MCK) won by forfeit
157 – Luke Kemper (MCK) def. Fernando Lopez (AU), 15-10 dec.
165 – Sam Richardson (MCK) def. Gavin Nelson (AU), 9-0 maj. dec.
174 – Hayden Flynn (AU) def. Shamon Handegan (MCK), 10-6 dec.
184 – Fletcher Rose (AU) def. Ridge Schutte (MCK), pin 2:15
197 – Casey Olszowka (MCK) def. Christopher Price (AU), pin 2:57
285 - Wyatt Bailey (AU) won by forfeit
 
COMING UP
The 2025-26 home opener at Kates Gymnasium vs. Davenport at 6 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 16). The dual also will be Youth Night.