#8 Grand Valley State went 2-1 on the opening day at the 2024 NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa Friday (Jan. 10). The Lakers dropped a tough 20-17 decision to #7 Augustana in the opening round, but regrouped and claimed a 36-10 victory over Indianapolis followed by a big 21-15 victory over Upper Iowa. Grand Valley State will square off against the University of Mary at 10 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 11) in a consolation semifinal.

Each team won five matches, but Augustana picked up the dual meet victory with three bonus-point wins. 

#7 Austana 20, #8 Grand Valley State 17
    125 - #2 Jaxson Rohman (AU) tech. fall Orion Wilson (GV), 19-4
    133 - #12 Jak Keller (GV) MD Braiden Kort (AU), 9-0
    141 - Connor Whiteley (AU) MD Lane Huizar (GV), 11-0
    149 - #6 Chris Donathan (GV) dec. #5 Cael Larson (AU), 5-4 
    157 - #11 Connor Simmonds (AU) tech. fall Maddox Simcoe, 16-0
    165 - Payton Handevidt (AU) dec. Maclain Morency (GV), 7-4
    174 - #3 Josh Kenny (GV) MD Coy Gunderson (AU), 12-0
    184 - #10 Brayden Mirjavadi (GV) dec. #5 Cade Mueller (AU), 7-2 
    197 - #4 Max Ramberg (AU) dec. Wyatt Miller (GV), 8-2
    Hwt - #4 Carter Blough (GV) dec. Max Balow (AU), 7-0

The Lakers dominated from the opening whistle, building a 36-0 lead by winning the first eight matches, including four by tech fall and one by fall. 

#8 Grand Valley State 36, #13 Indianapolis 10 
    125 - Orion Wilson (GV) tech. fall Jadon Gyan (I), 21-0
    133 - #12 Jak Keller (GV) fall Toby Billerman (I), 1:48
    141 - Eran Marx (GV) tech. fall Brayden Lowery (I), 22-5
    149 - #6 Chris Donathan (GV) dec. Gavin Garcia (I), 4-0 
    157 - Maddox Simcoe (GV) dec. Nathan Conley (I), 7-0
    165 - Bradley Mayse (GV) tech. fall Kaden Lone (I), 19-3
    174 - #3 Josh Kenny (GV) tech. fall Shane Bates (I), 18-1
    184 - #10 Brayden Mirjavadi (GV) MD Van Skinner (I), 14-3 
    197 - #1 Derek Blubaugh (I) MD Wyatt Miller (GV), 11-2
    Hwt - Cale Gray (I) forf. unknown

The Lakers built a 15-6 lead after the first five matches, including key pins by Jak Keller at 133 and Chris Donathan at 149. Upper Iowa won four consecutive matches to tie the score at 15-15. Junior Wyatt Miller won an incredible match at 197 by a 14-13 score. The match was tied 13-13 after a Miller take down and ride out in the final minute. Miller held a 1:43 advantage in riding time and tallied the win with the bonus point. Junior Carter Blough had to earn a win at 285 because an Upper Iowa decision or bonus-point win would have given the Peacocks the win on criteria or points. After a scoreless first period Bough rode out his Upper Iowa opponent the entire second period escaped early in the third period for the 2-0 victory and the team win.  

#8 Grand Valley State 21, Upper Iowa 15 
    125 - Orion Wilson (GV) dec. Treyton Ackman (UI), 10-4
    133 - #12 Jak Keller (GV) fall Dawson Schmit (UI), 6:51
    141 - #19 Ryan Wehner (UI) dec. Eran Marx (GV), 4-0
    149 - #6 Chris Donathan (GV) fall #12 Ethan Doty, 0:48 
    157 - Dalton Schams (UI) dec. Maddox Simcoe (GV), 5-3
    165 - Collin Altensey (UI) dec. Bradley Mayse (GV), 8-7 
    174 - #10 Lawson Losee (UI) dec. #3 Josh Kenny (GV), 5-4  
    184 - Colton Bye (UI) dec. #10 Brayden Mirjavadi (GV), 5-4  
    197 - Wyatt Miller (GV) dec. #20 Geoffrey Freeman (UI), 14-13
    Hwt - #4 Carter Blough (GV) dec. Joshua Gaye (UI), 2-0