Marshall, Mo. –Spire men left their mark in Marshall on Friday, January 9^th when they went a phenomenal 4-0 on the day. USM defeated Dakota Wesleyan 33-15, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 25-24, Marian University 27-22, and William Woods University 33-20.

Dual vs Dakota Wesleyan:
In the first six matches in the face-off against the (RV) Tigers, the Spires claimed five of them with Brody Gee yet again starting his squad off strong in the 125lb. weight-class with a quick pin over Chase Preston of DWU. Roman De La Cruz (133lb. weight-class) continued his hot streak with a win by decision over the 17^th ranked Kipp Cordes. Bobby Burke fell to Tiger 141lb wrestler, Ian Metz, but was quickly picked up by his teammates Ryan Buccat (149) and Josey Jernegan (157) dominated their opponents willing by tech fall 16-0 and major decision 15-4, respectively.

The Spires would go on to again win three of the final five matches of the dual. Graham Kilpper (165) picked up another big win by decision over Jackson Remmers. Tyler and Foreman of DWU defeated Michael Ager and Orinn Hubbard in the 174lb. weight-class and 184lb. weight-class, respectively. Gabe Chesbro (197) and Devin Lolar (285) both racked up pins over Qual and Hennings, with Lolar taking down Hennings in forty-five seconds, this bolted his team ahead even further, finishing with a 33-15 win.

Dual vs Marian University:
USM was hungry for another win on the day and familiar face and top ranked Brody Gee proved his strengths yet again with a win by decision over Anthony Hughes of MU. Similarly, we would see De La Cruz follow Gee's win up with a W of his own, defeating Bertsch in the 133lb. weight-class. Wagner of MU would get the best of Bobby Burke this time as he fell in the 141lb. weight class. Benjamin Smith would earn a win by way of forfeit, earning an additional 6 points for this squad. Josey Jernegan would follow the winning pattern for the second time yesterday morning with a win over Arberry in the 157lb. weight-class.

Dunasky, Rinehart, and Hollendonner of the #16 ranked Knights would claim victories over Kilpper, Ager, and Hubbard, but Spire teammates Chesbro and Lolar would pin both their opponents (Lolar with another impressive forty-four second pin), to push their team to the top, with a final score of 27-22 in favor of the good guys,
 
Dual vs Lindsey Wilson:
USM started down two matches with Courtney Anderson and Roman De La Cruz lost their matches in the 125 and 133 weight classes. The Spires would quickly fight back with Bobby Burke, Ryan Buccat, and Josey Jernegan all racking up wins. Burke (141) won by decision over Arlo Laxton, while teammates Buccat (149) and Jernegan (157) came out on top with a few pins over McGhee and Chelestin.

The final five matches would be neck and neck. Jaiden Moore of LW would win by decision over Kilpper of the Spires. USM and the Blue Raiders would flip flop the next four, with Ager (174) defeating Roe with a final of 9-2, Hubbard falling to Cannan, Chesbro pinning Thompson in the 197lb. weight-class and the heavyweight match failing in favor of the Blue Raiders. This would leave the final tied at 24 all, however USM's hard work paid off as the Spires had the third tiebreaker consisting of total match points scored from decisions, major decisions and tech falls. This gave the Spires the final point and well-earned 25-24 win.

Dual vs William Woods:
Gee kept his winning streak hot, however this time by way of forfeit, earning the Spires a quick and easy 6 points over the (RV) Owls. Werdenhausen of WWU would claim the victory in the 133lb. weight-class. The next three matches would go to USM; Burke, Ben Smith, and Trevor Mogren would all aid the Spire efforts with Burke and Smith winning by pinfall over Moore-Fondren and Karr while Mogren would win by decision in the 157lb. weight-class with a final of 13-7.

The Owl athletes would take the next three matches over Lleyton Hoover, Ager, and Hubbard in the 165, 174, and 184 matches, respectively. Tides would turn in favor of USM again as Chesbro and Lolar would each score 6 for the Spires, wrapping up another successful match with a dominant 33-20 win.
 
Up next, the Spires will take a long road trip to Bartlesville, Oklahoma to face the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles in a KCAC dual on Thursday, January 15^th. To follow along with all individual rankings, please follow along at The Open Mat.