HOT SPRINGS – The Ouachita wrestling team broke through Tuesday night, winning three of the final four bouts to defeat Newman 27-18 and earn its first Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association victory of the 2025-26 season.
Six Tiger grapplers emerged victorious, highlighted by a pair of dominant tech falls from Caleb Andrews and Ethan Day. After Newman struck first with a win at 125, Ouachita took a forfeit at 133 to claim a lead it never relinquished. Freshman Iziah Tusler used a tough ride out in the third period to lock up riding time and grind out a hard-fought 2-0 decision over Kaven Bartlett.
Junior 141-pounder Caleb Andrews followed up attacking early with a high crotch, transitioned to a single leg and scrambled to secure the first takedown. Andrews kept the pressure on his opponent, diving at a single leg to score a buzzer-beater takedown and take a 6-1 lead after the first period. To start the third, Andrews swam out of bottom position to score a reversal, then countered a desperate attack by using a nearside cradle to earn back points and deliver the tech fall with no time left.
Newman clawed back within striking distance after taking an injury default at 157, followed by another win at 165 to cut the deficit to 14-13 with just four matches left. Day halted the Jets momentum and put on a wrestling clinic, using a bear hug off a body lock to drop his opponent from his feet to his back. Ouachita's freshman 174-pounder never let up, mixing in multiple snap downs and pounced on a cross pick to finish the takedown. Day used a series of tilts to rack up back points and earn a 20-3 tech fall that gave the Tigers a 19-13 edge.
Sophomore Cayden Byrd put together a complete performance, attacking first to grab a single leg, then transitioned to a double leg to secure the first takedown. After his opponent escaped, Byrd kept the pressure on and dropped to an outside single, then reversed course and drove his opponent to the mat with another double leg takedown. Byrd controlled the 197-pound bout to earn a 18-8 major decision that set the stage for a ranked heavyweight rematch for all the marbles.
After a scoreless first period between Ouachita's No. 14 BK Seago and Newman's No. 9 Caleb Wunsch, Seago scored a reversal from bottom position to take a 2-0 lead. Once his opponent escaped, Seago dove on a low single-leg and dropped Wunsch to his back. Seago climbed the ladder and turned a takedown into back points for a 4-point nearfall. In the third period, Wusch went for a headlock, but Seago countered using a throw by to drop Wunsch to the mat for a dual-clinching takedown. Seago avenged his last loss at the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis to deliver a commanding 13-4 major decision over a top 10 opponent.
Ouachita (5-5, 1-2 MIAA) continues MIAA action with a road match at No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday.
