DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Simpson wrestling team embarked for Dubuque on Friday, not returning to Indianola until Saturday after dropping a tight dual meet to the University of Dubuque and competing in the Duhawk Open.

Friday, Jan. 30 – Dubuque 36, Simpson 3

No. 30 University of Dubuque pulled off wins a number of tight matches on Friday night to run away with a commanding, 36-3 win on Friday.

Devan Berrian (141) was the lone Storm wrestler to earn a win, improving to 12-3 on the year as Simpson lost five matches by a mere nine collective points.

Once again Simpson was snake-bitten by a forfeit at 125, followed up by pins at 133 and 149 that put the Storm (6-10, 0-5) behind the eight ball.

After that downturn Simpson’s Jacob Mize (157) lost a 5-4 battle to Frank Frasetto followed by a 5-2 decision that went to Manuel Mendoza over Brian Haynes (165).

Brett Roberts (174) lost his second decision in as many matches by one-point to Eltron Turnage (4-3).

Spencer Ward (184), Ethan Calvert (197) and Colby Vlieger (285) would all drop their matches by four points or less to close out the meet.

Friday, Jan. 31 – Duhawk Open – 5 of 8 Simpson wrestlers place in top six

Although no team scores were kept, five of the eight Simpson wrestlers placed in the top six at the Duhawk open as the Storm wrestling team spent the weekend in Dubuque.

The highest finish on the day was from Devin Syler who finished fourth at 157, taking down Upper Iowa’s Anthony Hebert 4-2. Syler would advance on an injury default from Simpson’s Clay Harris before falling in the semifinals to Kory Jauch of UW-Whitewater.

Harris would also go 3-2 before losing on the injury default and Vlieger posted a 2-2 record on the day.

Simpson will move on to Buena Vista University, next Saturday, Feb. 7 in a meet that was moved from Jan. 6 due to weather.