LOUISVILLE, KY. – Cortland dropped a pair of matches versus foes from Iowa during the opening day of the National Wrestling Coaches Association Nationals Duals at the Kentucky Expo Center. The Red Dragons lost to nationally 12th-ranked Loras College, 33-12, in their opening match and fell to 15th-ranked Coe College, 29-16, to start the 17th-to-24th-place bracket. 
 
Cortland (0-4) will face Wilkes University Saturday at 9 a.m., followed by a matchup with either NYU or Mount Union at 1 p.m. for either fifth place (21st overall) or seventh place (23rd overall) in the bracket. 
 
Cortland took an early 12-3 lead versus Loras. Nationally fourth-ranked J.C. Cardenas (Brooklyn/Grand Street Campus) won by an 18-3 technical fall in 4:36 at 133 pounds, nationally 11th-ranked Cahal Donovan (Marietta/Marcellus) earned an 11-2 major decision at 141 pounds, and Ryan Burgbacher (Medford/Patchogue-Medford) posted an 8-6 decision at 149 pounds. Loras, however, won the final six matches, capped by four straight pins. 
 
The Red Dragons also grabbed an early lead, 16-2, versus Coe before the Kohawks won the last five matches with three pins, a technical fall and a major decision. Cody Merwin (Walton) opened the match with an 11-9 decision at 125 pounds. Coe won the next match but received a one-point team penalty and trailed 3-2. Donovan won by a 14-3 major decision at 141, Angelo Centrone (Mahopac) won 5-3 versus nationally 12th-ranked Riley Wright at 149, and Nick Ross (Woodstock/Onteora) pinned his opponent in 1:27 at 157. 
 
Loras 33, Cortland 12 
125 – Jared Hensley (LORAS) dec. Cody Merwin, 5-2 
133 – J.C. Cardenas (CORT) tech. fall Nosa Egbon, 4:36 (18-3) 
141 – Cahal Donovan (CORT) major dec. Reis Ginter, 11-2 
149 – Ryan Burgbacher (CORT) dec. Jalen Schropp, 8-6 
157 – Daniel Meeker (LORAS) dec. Kyle Klein, 6-2 
165 – Gabe Fiser (LORAS) dec. Hunter Hughes, 10-6 
174 – Zeb Ginda (LORAS) pinned Brian Torres, 2:54 
184 – Shane Liegel (LORAS) pinned Tyler Goodemote, 2:00 
197 – Derek Venteicher (LORAS) pinned Steven Gazzillo, 6:53 
285 – Charles Langeberg (LORAS) pinned Dylan Houseknecht, 5:48 
 
Records after match: Loras (Duhawks) 6-1, Cortland (Red Dragons) 0-3 
 
Coe 29, Cortland 16 
125 – Cody Merwin (CORT) dec. Jaiden Moore, 11-9 
133 – Alex Friddle (COE) dec. J.C. Cardenas, 9-6 
141 – Cahal Donovan (CORT) major dec. Bryce Parke, 14-3 
149 – Angelo Centrone (CORT) dec. Riley Wright, 5-3 
157 – Nick Ross (CORT) pinned Kael Scranton, 1:27 
165 – Will Esmoil (COE) major dec. Hunter Hughes, 11-3 
174 – LJ Richardson (COE) pinned Brian Torres, 6:26 
184 – Tristin Westphal (COE) tech. fall Steven Gazzillo, 4:45 (17-0) 
197 – Jared Voss (COE) pinned Tyler Goodemote, 1:36 
285 – Kaleb Reeves (COE) pinned Dylan Houseknecht, 0:16 
* one team point deducted from Coe for control of mat area penalty 
 
Records after match: Coe (Kohawks) 2-4, Cortland (Red Dragons) 0-4