Beware of the Lions - Senior Chris Smith locked up with Nate Watchter of Penn State, losing was Smith at 157.

Senior Stas Khaitlin started the meet with a major decision over Jamie Gibbs 15-3 at 133.

At 149, freshman Kurt Nelson upset Coe's Drew Achenbach by scoring seven points in the second period to win 14-6.

"Kurt Nelson stepped up," complimented Coach Miller. "He didn't take a back seat to [Achanbach], who was one round from being an All-American last year."

Senior Chris Smith at 157 and sophomore Cody Alesch who wrestles at 165 pounds, both got first round takedowns and went on to win their matches by decisions. Smith won 10-3, and Alesch won 6-2.

At 184, senior Carson Andorf and junior Matt Buskohl at 197 received forfeits.

Senior Zac Weiglein scored ten points in the first period before pinning Eric Casey with 42 seconds left in the second period.

Sophmore Jordan Ottow, wrestling at 133 caught an elbow in the face while riding Kane Thompson.

"I couldn't see," Ottow said. "He elbowed me and the swelling went straight to my eye." Ottow continued and scored nine points in the final period to win by major decision 13-0.

Wartburg's two losses came at 174 and heavyweight. Freshman Sonny Alvarez lost to CoeÕs Zak Gordon 6-4. Senior Heavyweight Jeff Clark lost 8-2.

Freshman Corey Wilkens won the only J.V. match of the night 13-6.

Saturday, the Knights traveled to the Bryce Jordan Center in Pennsylvania to take part in the Cliff Keen/NWCA National Dual Championships.

In the first round Wartburg grappled with Division I power Cal-State Bakersfield and fell 33-3.

Weiglein dropped a major decision 12-2 at 125.

At 133, Cal-State Bakersfield won by injury default over senior Ben Kritsonis.

Khaitin battled but came up on the short end of a 3-2 decision at 141.

At 149, junior Nick Mitchell dropped a decision 13-7 and Chris Smith lost a close match 3-1 at 157.

The Knights than lost the next to matches in major decisions to Cal-State Bakersfield.

At 165, sophmore Justin Holdgrafer dropped a 11-2 decision and Alvarez lost his match 13-2 at 174.

Andorf fought hard but was defeated 6-0 at 184, while Buskohl lost his match 3-0 at 197.

The Knights lone victory came at Heavyweight where senior Kris O'Rear defated John Devine of Cal-State Bakersfield 10-6 to prevent the shutout.

It didn't get any easier for the Knights in the consolation round. They went head to head against the host team and dropped the match 40- -1.

The Wartburg JV wrestlers lost 25-19 in a close dual to Ohio Northern's Varsity squad Sunday.

Freshman Joe Havig wrestling at 133 and pinned Adam Meyer with five seconds left in the first period.

Wartburg forfeited at 141.

At 149, freshman Kurt Nelson couldn't avoid the cradle as he lost to Tim Geiger 10-6.

Freshman Corey Wilkens pinned Ben Dusina in 1:51 at 157.

Sophomore Cody Alesch beat Jarrid Bradford 6-3 at 165. Junior Josh Baker, who usually wrestles at 157, wrestled up two weights to fill a spot at 174 and lost to Josh DeMarco 20-7.

Wartburg's Austin Sorgenfrey nearly pinned Dave Charles in the first period, but Charles came back to win 13-11 at 184.

At 197, sophomore Andy Fecht lost 7-5 to Paul Grigsby.

Freshman heavyweight Leroy Gardner III took Rick Allen down four times to earn a major decision, 9-1.

"Our guys need to do the little things, like finishing at the end of the match," said Gardner.

The score was 19-19 with only the 125 match left. Freshman Knight Brian Frost was pinned in the third period.

The Knights compete again Wednesday in Mount Vernon against the Cornell Rams.