Bulldog Wrestling Returns For Conference Opener On Friday

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KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - A busy stretch is in store for the Bulldog Wrestling team as they will compete five times over the next nine days beginning on Friday night when the open the MIAA dual season by hosting Lindenwood (Mo.) University at 7:30 p.m. in Pershing Arena. It is the first conference dual for the Bulldogs since a 38-14 victory over Missouri S&T back in 1986.

Truman (3-0/0-0 MIAA) has been idle since a December 5th dual win over William Penn (Iowa) by a 29-11 score. They are led by junior 149-pound Ryan Maus, senior 141-pound Alex Maus and junior 157-pound Colton Schmitz. Ryan Maus is ranked seventh in the latest Division II Coaches Poll at 149 and is 10-4 on the season.

Lindenwood (1-2/0-0 MIAA) is in their first season as a Division II member and first in the MIAA. They placed fourth at the National Wrestling Coaches Association Championships last year with Craig Chiles taking second at 141, Jacob Janes third at 141 and Michael Caldwell fourth at 133. The Lions have been off since December 8th when they went 1-2 at the Newberry (S.C.) Duals.

The MIAA reinstated wrestling as a conference sport this season with the addition of Lindenwood, Central Oklahoma, Nebraska-Kearney to the current league members of Truman, Central Missouri and Fort Hays (Kan.) State. The six teams will have a round-robin dual season and then compete in a one-day championship bracket meet on February 10th in Edmond, Okla.

Wrestling was a league sport from 1965-1986 when the conference was known as the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Truman won five team titles during the initial offering of wrestling with three straight from 1968-1970 and back-to-back championships in 1978 and 1979.

Featured Match:
The 141-pound match between Truman's Alex Maus (8-2) against either Jacob Janes (13-8) or Craig Chiles (5-3) should be the highlight of the night. Maus has been dominate for the Bulldogs this season while Janes (third) and Chiles (second) both placed at the NWCA national meet last year for the Lions.

Dual History:
The Lions have won nine of the 12 meetings against the Bulldogs dating back to the 1991-92 season. Last year, Lindenwood won 47-12 in the MIAA Duals in Kirksville just three Lions (Blayne Shockley, Michael Caldwell and Jacob Janes) and one Bulldog (Helmut Rentschler) competed in the dual.

Up Next:
Truman will be back in action on Sunday as they travel to Atchison, Kan. to face NAIA Benedictine College in a dual and will return home for duals against Central Missouri and Central Baptist on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

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