SPRINGFIELD, Mo.– The Drury Panthers split two duals Friday as they were edged by the University of the Ozarks 23-22, then DU defeated Fontbonne 45-12 at Weiser Gym. The duals were Drury's first competition since the Midwest Classic tournament in Indianapolis in mid-December.
 
The Panthers and the University of the Ozarks split their 10 matches with each side claiming five wins, but the Eagles squeaked out a one-point victory. Drury's nationally ranked Peter Kuster got a 9-3 win at 141 pounds while Seth Otis won by Major Decision 12-2 competing at 157 pounds, and Alex Garrett won by Fall at 1:20 over Kade McMahon in the 165-pound class. Drury's Trenton Clines also hung on for a 4-1 win at 197 pounds.
 
Drury finished the day with a 45-12 win over Fontbonne. The Panthers forfeited at 125 pounds, then lost by Fall in the next match to fall behind 12-0, but then reeled off 45 straight points going undefeated for the rest of the day. Peter Kuster, Riley McCall, Tucker Caswell, and Jared Rennick, all won by Fall and Rennick, a junior from Washington, Missouri, capped the event off pinning his opponent in 13 seconds.
 
"We had a rough start for the new year with several guys out sick, but we are fortunate to have several great teammates step up and answer the call by either moving up in weight class or stepping in to their place to compete," said Drury head coach James Reynolds. "Once again, we are humbled by the amount of support from fans, parents, students and our university."
 
The Panthers open Great Lakes Valley Conference competition next Friday when they host Ouachita Baptist at 7 pm in the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
Match Results – Drury vs Univ. of the Ozarks
125: Nathaneal Rankin (OZAR) over (DU) (For.)
133: Stephen Fox (OZAR) over Chris Hansen (DU) (MD 14-3)
141: Peter Kuster (DU) over Corey Muniz (OZAR) (Dec 9-3)
149: Sergio Nugent (OZAR) over Riley McCall (DU) (Dec 7-4)
157: Seth Otis (DU) over Russell Miller (OZAR) (MD 12-2)
165: Alex Garrett (DU) over Kade McMahon (OZAR) (Fall 1:20)
174: Ndayambaje John (OZAR) over Tucker Caswell (DU) (MD 13-5)
184: Miguel Baray (OZAR) over Logan Zimmermann (DU) (Fall 3:42)
197: Trenton Clines (DU) over Montana Doty (OZAR) (Dec 4-1)
285: Jared Rennick (DU) over (OZAR) (For.)
 
Match Results – Drury vs Fontbonne
125: Austin Cornell (FONT) over (DU) (For.)
133: Tanner Koester (FONT) over Chris Hansen (DU) (Fall 2:00)
141: Peter Kuster (DU) over Noah Patton (FONT) (Fall 1:27)
149: Riley McCall (DU) over David Vance (FONT) (Fall 1:06)
157: Seth Otis (DU) over (FONT) (For.)
165: Alex Garrett (DU) over (FONT) (For.)
174: Tucker Caswell (DU) over Micah Dennis (FONT) (Fall 2:33)
184: Logan Zimmermann (DU) over Dalton Rawlins (FONT) (Dec 9-3)
197: Trenton Clines (DU) over (FONT) (For.)
285: Jared Rennick (DU) over Joseph Johnson (FONT) (Fall 0:13)
 
#allweDUiswin