FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Ouachita Tigers competed in the National Wrestling Duals on Jan. 10-11, defeating Alderson-Broaddus 49-3 before losing two straight duals to St. Cloud State and Mercyhurst.
 
Against Alderson-Broaddus, nine out of 10 Tigers defeated their opponent, starting with Garrett Evan's 19-3 technical fall victory over Cody Buchanan. Nate Rodriguez and Josh Myers each followed by pinning their opponents, before Ouachita's Connor Loderhose lost a close 6-5 decision to Jason West.
 
After the loss at the 149-pound class, however, the Tigers won six straight matches. Blake Clevenger and Payne Hatter each earned major-decision victories, and Jacob Andrews, Dallas Smith, O'Dell Lee and Blake Andrews all pinned their opponents.
 
After dominating the Alderson-Broaddus Battlers, the Tigers claimed an early lead over St. Cloud State with three straight victories from Evans, Rodriguez and Myers. Rodriguez highlighted the duals with an 8-0 major decision. Tanner Bailey, Clevenger and Dexter Carter fell to their opponents which gave St. Cloud State a 13-10 overall lead.
 
Hatter evened the overall score at 13 immediately with a 5-1 decision in the 174-pound match. Smith then gave Ouachita a 17-13 lead after a major-decision win. St. Cloud State would win take the lead and the 22-17 victory, however, after winning the final two individual matches.
 
In Ouachita's third match, the Tigers fell behind Mercyhurst early after Evans was handed his first loss of the tournament on a 6-3 decision. Rodriguez, who won all three matches he participated in, pinned his opponent at the 2:53 mark, which gave the Tigers the 6-3 lead. Myers followed with his third victory of the tournament, as well, as he earned a major-decision win to put Ouachita ahead 10-3.
 
Mercyhurst would eventually take the overall lead after winning the next five individual matches. Despite victories by both Lee and Andrews in the final two matches, Ouachita was defeated, 21-15.
 
The Tigers are currently ranked ninth in Division II, after being ranked fourth previously in the season. They will travel to Oklahoma City, Okla. on Jan. 21 to take on the Oklahoma City University Stars. 

For complete results from the National Duals, click here.