For Immediate Release
Monday, January 12, 2026
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Wrestler of the Week
Luke Tweeton (285 lbs., R-Sr., Frazee, Minn. / Frazee HS) – University of Mary
- Went 4-0 at the NWCA National Duals to help lead UMary to a sixth-place finish
- Defeated three nationally ranked heavyweights at the tournament
- Defeated #2 Carter Blough by a 3-2 decision for a 23-20 victory over Grand Valley State
- Beat #6 Jake Powell of Tiffin with a 10-5 sudden victory
- Took down #13 Isaac Sheeren of Lander University by a 4-2 decision
- Secured an 8-3 decision over Orest Nazarchuk of Maryville
Other Top Performances
Luke Koenen (Augustana)
- Went 4-0 at the NWCA National Duals, helping the Vikings to a seventh-place finish
- Had two bonus point wins and a ranked win
- Helped AU knock off three teams ranked in the NWCA Top 25
- Defeated Ashtan Hendricks of #25 King (Tenn.) 16-6
- Knocked off #3 Josh Taylor of #1 Central Oklahoma with a 7-4 decision
- Rounded out the first day with an 8-5 win over Bradley Ruckman of #8 McKendree
- In his only match on Saturday, he knocked off Bret Minnick of #6 Tiffin by major decision, 14-4
- Moved to 18-8 on the season
Walker Bents (Minnesota State)
- Went 4-1 at the NWCA National Duals
- Posted a fall victory over West Liberty's Joey Sentipal at the 2:01 mark
- Notched an 11-0 major decision win over St. Cloud State's Vance Barz
- Posted a 19-2 tech fall at 6:49 over Grand Valley State's Eran Marx
- Won via forfeit against Ashland
Anthony Sykora (MSU Moorhead)
- Went 3-1 across four matches as part of the Virginia Duals
- Pinned Marymount's Ian Harris at 1:08 to help the Dragons to a 38-15 dual victory
- Scored a 16-6 major decision over Newberry's Josh Echeverria in the semifinal dual
- Earned a 13-1 major decision over (RV) East Stroudsburg's Brendan Ridge in the fifth-place dual
Rudy Lopez (Northern State)
- Went 2-0 for the Wolves from the Iron Mike Duals with a pair of ranked wins
- Defeated No. 14 Garrett Lyons of Central Missouri in a 4-1 decision
- Tallied a 9-4 decision victory over No. 7 Sabian Russell of Quincy
- Improved to 11-4 on the year
- Northern swept the dual tournament with a 3-0 record notching wins over No. 17 Central Missouri, (RV) Quincy, and Fort Hays State
Cooper Sanders (Sioux Falls)
- Went 3-1 across four duals at 157 pounds during the Iron Mike Duals
- Opened the event with an 11–10 decision over Tate Condezo (SMSU)
- Delivered a pin (2:16) against Micah Castro (Fort Hays State) in a 29–15 victory
- Picked up a 4–0 shutout decision over Xerarch Tungjaroenkul (Central Missouri)
Bryce Dagel (St. Cloud State)
- Went 4-0 in the Huskies fifth place finish at the NWCA National Duals
- Tallied a major decision against Mustafa Salimi of RV Maryville by score of 12-2
- Beat Maxwell Kiel of No. 6 Lander 5-3
- A late takedown against No. 13 Drake Hayward of RV Minnesota State secured a 7-2 win
- Pinned Wyatt Elam of No. 19 UMary in 5:33
- Improved to 8-2 with six bonus point wins and is ranked No. 14 at 174
Easton Worachek (Parkside)
- Went 4-0 at the NWCA National Duals
- Helped Parkside match a program best third place team finish
- Defeated #8 Nico Taddy of West Liberty by Dec 4-1
- Defeated Maclain Morency of #12 Grand Valley St. by SV-1 4-1
- Defeated #6 Cael Robb of #2 Nebraska-Kearney by Dec 4-2
- Defeated Reid Noble of #6 Lander by Dec 8-5
NSIC Wrestling Pages
NSIC Wrestlers of the Week
11/4/25: Caleb Meunier – Minnesota State
11/11/25: Krayle Stormer – Northern State
11/17/25: Jordan Blanchard – Parkside
11/24/25: Dominic Ducato – St. Cloud State
12/8/25: Coy Gunderson – Augustana
12/15/25: Jalen Spuhler – Parkside
12/22/25: Max Ramberg – Augustana
1/5/26: Payton Handevidt – Augustana
1/12/26: Luke Tweeton – University of Mary
About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past three decades, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 122 individual national champions. For additional information, visit
NorthernSun.org.
About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.
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