FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Brett Scoles and James Lehman sparked the Wisconsin-Parkside wrestling team to victories over fourth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney and Upper Iowa during the opening round of the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals on Thursday in the Fort Wayne Convention Center.
 
With the Rangers trailing 9-4 in their second match of the day against fourth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, Scoles turned the tables in Wisconsin-Parkside's favor with a win against Destin McCauley who is the top-ranked 157-pound wrestler in the nation. Scoles recorded a takedown with just over 30 seconds remaining in the third period to give him a 5-4 win against McCauley.
 
Wisconsin-Parkside, which improved to 4-0 in dual meets, then reeled off five consecutive victories to post a 26-9 win against the Lopers.
 
Josh Anthony, Nick Becker, Montrail Johnson, Lehman and Matt Halverson all recorded victories against Nebraska-Kearney to close out the match. Ronzel Darling was also victorious for the Rangers as he topped Vlad Kazakov 12-3 in the 125-pound match.
 
In the Rangers opening match of the tournament, Lehman recorded a key pin leading the Rangers to a 20-16 win against Upper Iowa.
 
Victories by Becker and Johnson put Wisconsin-Parkside in front 14-13, and Lehman secured the win for the Rangers by pinning Ryan Parmely to increase the lead to 20-13.
 
Wisconsin-Parkside also received wins from Darling and Airk Furseth against the Peacocks.
 
Wisconsin-Parkside advanced to the semifinals of the tournament with its two victories and will meet top-ranked St. Cloud State on Friday at 10 a.m. The winner will advance to the championship at 1 p.m. on Friday.
 
Wisconsin-Parkside vs Upper Iowa
Match Summary
125- Ronzel Darling (Wisconsin-Parkside) over Maleek Williams (Upper Iowa) Dec 7-1
133-Airk Furseth (Wisconsin-Parkside) over Josh Walker (Upper Iowa) Maj 11-2
141-Jordan Roths (Upper Iowa) over Derek Gill (Wisconsin-Parkside) Dec 5-4
149-Damian Penichet (Upper Iowa) over Cody Walrath (Wisconsin-Parkside) Maj 12-3
157-Zak Benitz (Upper Iowa) over Brett Scoles (Wisconsin-Parkside) Dec 6-3
165-Colbey Vance (Upper Iowa) over Josh Anthony (Wisconsin-Parkside) Dec 10-6
174-Nick Becker (Wisconsin-Parkside) over Dalton Westerlund (Upper Iowa) Maj 12-4
184-Montrail Johnson (Wisconsin-Parkside) over Nick Baumler (Upper Iowa) Dec 10-6
197-James Lehman (Wisconsin-Parkside) over Ryan Parmely (Upper Iowa) Fall 0:57
285-Logan Hopp (Upper Iowa) over Matt Halverson (Wisconsin-Parkside) Dec 4-1
Dual Meet Score 20-16
 
Wisconsin-Parkside vs Nebraska-Kearney
Match Summary
125-Ronzel Darling (Wisconsin-Parkside) over Vlad Kazakov (Nebraska-Kearney) Maj 12-3
133-Bryce Shoemaker (Nebraska-Kearney) over Airk Furseth (Wisconsin-Parkside) Dec 7-1
141-Jeff Bizzle (Nebraska-Kearney) over Derek Gill (Wisconsin-Parkside) Dec 3-1
149-Tevin Briscoe (Nebraska-Kearney) over Cody Walrath (Wisconsin-Parkside) Dec 6-1
157-Brett Scoles (Wisconsin-Parkside) over Destin McCauley (Nebraska-Kearney) Dec 5-4
165-Josh Anthony (Wisconsin-Parkside) over Nickalas Babcock (Nebraska-Kearney) Dec 7-1
174-Nick Becker (Wisconsin-Parkside) over Calvin Ochs (Nebraska-Kearney) Dec 10-6
184-Montrail Johnson (Wisconsin-Parkside) over Zach Stodden (Nebraska-Kearney) Fall 5:10
197-James Lehman (Wisconsin-Parkside) over Trey Schlender (Nebraska-Kearney) Maj 16-7
285-Matt Halverson (Wisconsin-Parkside) over Jarrod Hinrichs (Nebraska-Kearney) Dec 2-1
Dual Meet Score 26-9