Top seeds roll into semifinals at Multi-Divisional National Duals; Returning champs all in position to repeat

A Division I field is at the Multi-Divisional National Duals for the first time since 2011. This year’s field is centered around Mid-Major schools, many of which compete in Power 4 conferences as affiliate members. The last time Division I competed in a National Duals format was in 2017 when Division I closed the regular season with a bowl-style matchup system. The last bracketed event was in 2015.

Top-seeded Northern Iowa blitzed into the semifinals after a pair of victories on Friday in the familiar UNI-Dome. The Panthers opened with a 38-7 win over Sacred Heart, followed by a 48-3 win over Ohio. Coach Doug Schwab’s squad fill take on Northern Colorado in Saturday’s semifinals. The Bears opened with a 32-10 win over CSU Bakersfield and then topped Wyoming 22-12. Northern Colorado and Northern Iowa are both affiliate members of the Big 12.

In the bottom half of the bracket, second-seeded South Dakota State dropped four of its first five matches against Penn, but the Jackrabbits swept the last five weights, including bonus victories at 197 and heavyweight to rally past the Quakers 21-16 in the quarterfinals. South Dakota State opened with a 20-13 win over Central Michigan. The Jackrabbits, also affiliates of the Big 12, will face third-seeded Little Rock in the semifinals.

Little Rock breezed past SIU Edwardsville 39-6 in the opening round and then rallied past Cal Poly 22-19 in the quarterfinals. The Trojans key victories down the stretch were falls from Tyler Brennan at 174 pounds and a tech fall by 197-pound All-American Stephen Little. Cal Poly, who are Pac-12 affiliates with Little Rock, had the early momentum after Zeth Romney pinned All-American Nasir Bailey at 133 pounds and Chance Lamer beat Southern Scuffle champion Jordan Williams at 149 pounds.

Top-seeded St. Cloud State blistered through its first two opponents, dropping just three individual bouts to reach the semifinals. The Huskies topped King 33-9 in the opening round before moving past No. 8 Tiffin 38-3. Fifth-seeded McKendree awaits in the semifinals.

The Bearcats edged West Liberty 23-20 in the opening round and reached the semifinals after beating Upper Iowa 21-18. Upper Iowa had the lone first-round upset, picking off fourth-seeded Glenville State 20-14.

St. Cloud State has won eight previous Division II National Duals titles, while McKendree’s best Division II finish was second in 2022, when it lost in the finals to St. Cloud State.

The second and third seeds held as returning National Duals champion Central Oklahoma advanced with a pair of victories to reach the semifinals. The Bronchos will face third-seeded Nebraska-Kearney.

Central Oklahoma, winners of three National Duals all-time, opened with a 26-15 over UMary and then took out No. 7 UW-Parkside 20-15. Nebraska-Kearney opened with a 30-11 win over Indianapolis and then the Lopers topped sixth-seeded Augustana (S.D.) 23-13. Nebraska-Kearney previously won the Division II National Duals in 2003 and 2007.

It was the usual suspects reaching the semifinals in the Division III Men’s Division as top-seeded Wartburg, second-seeded UW-La Crosse, third-seeded Augsburg and fourth-seeded Johnson & Wales all reached the semifinals.

Wartburg, winners of 13 National Duals crowns, opened with a 31-12 win over Wabash before a resounding 41-3 win over Alvernia, which was making its first National Duals appearance. The Knights will face Johnson & Wales, which went 2-0 with a 40-7 win over Luther and a 37-9 win over fifth-seeded Baldwin Wallace.

Second-seeded UW-La Crosse got a scare from seventh-seeded TCNJ, but Michael Douglas’ technical fall at 285 pounds cemented the Eagles 20-14 win and berth in the semifinals to face third-seeded Augsburg. The Auggies, winners of eight National Duals titles, fell behind early against Vermont State University Castleton, but won six of the last seven weights to advance with a 22-12 win. Augsburg opened with a 51-0 win over Olivet.

Returning champion Life lost six of ten bouts in the quarterfinals, but three of the Running Eagles’ four wins were bonus victories as they escaped Embry-Riddle with a 20-19 win. Life scored a technical fall at 133 pounds, received a forfeit at 184 pounds and picked up a fall at 197 pounds to pull past the upset-minded Eagles. Life, which ended Grand View’s 11-year-run atop the National Duals podium, will face third-seeded Campbellsville in Saturday’s semifinals. Campbellsville opened with a 28-18 win over Missouri Valley and moved into the semis with a 24-17 win over sixth-seeded Doane.

Top-seeded Grand View had little resistance as the Vikings opened with a 52-0 win over Morningside and followed with a 42-9 win over Southern Oregon. They will face fourth-seeded Southeastern. The Fire bested Eastern Oregon 30-8 in the opening round and advanced to the semifinals with a 22-14 win over fifth-seeded University of the Cumberlands.

Returning champion Iowa got off to a fast start, winning 18 of 20 matches to reach Saturday’s semifinals of the NCAA Women’s Division. The top-seeded Hawkeyes topped Aurora 32-10 in the first round and ran past Wartburg 42-1. Coach Clarissa Chun’s squad will face fourth-seeded McKendree, which opened with a 35-12 win over Emmanuel before rallying past fifth-seeded Presbyterian 24-20.

Second-seeded North Central, last year’s runner-up, didn’t drop a match in Friday’s victories over Mount Olive (44-0) and Elmira (44-2). The Cardinals will face traditional power King University in the semifinals. The third-seeded Tornado opened with a 37-11 win over Lock Haven and then defeated sixth-seeded Colorado Mesa 32-15.

Top-seeded Life University’s quest to repeat as NAIA Women’s champion is off to a solid start as the Running Eagles swept 20 individual bouts in two dual wins on Friday. Life shutout Missouri Baptist 48-0 to open the day’s action and followed with a 39-4 win over Campbellsville. Life will face fourth-seeded Providence (Mont.), which reached the semifinals after a 34-15 win over Texas Wesleyan and a 36-11 win over fifth-seeded William Penn.

Second-seeded Grand View advanced with a 37-9 win in the opening round over Doane and a 33-11 win over seventh-seeded Indiana Tech in the quarterfinals. The Vikings will face sixth-seeded Southern Oregon. The Raiders opened with a 46-3 win over Lourdes and then upset third-seeded University of the Cumberlands 26-17.