DES MOINES, Iowa - Facing off against some of the nation's stiffest competition, the Elmhurst wrestling team posted an 0-3 record at the NWCA Division III National Duals.

Elmhurst dropped its opening dual 34-8 to #2 Augbsurg before dropping a 25-15 decision to 20th-ranked Springfield College. The Bluejays closed the tournament with a 21-14 loss to Loras College.

AUGSBURG 24, ELMHURST 8 - In a dual that featured six nationally ranked wrestlers, Augsburg emerged with eight victories and a 34-8 win in the dual.

Elmhurst scored its only points of the dual at 141 pounds and 149 pounds. Jim Spangler put Elmhurst on the scoreboard at 141 pounds with a 9-0 major decision over Augsburg's Marcus Hamer. The Bluejays' Ryan Prater, ranked second in the nation at 149 pounds, scored Elmhurst's second win with a 9-1 major decision over Rashad Kennedy.

After scoring pins at 125 pounds and 133 pounds, Augsburg closed the dual with six straight victories, including at 285 pounds that featured a pair of top-10 wrestlers. Augsburg's Chad Johnson, ranked number one in the nation, defeated sixth-ranked Dan Vargas 6-0.

SPRINGFIELD 25, ELMHURST 15 - Springfield scored wins at six of the 10 weight classes to earn a 10-point victory over the Bluejays.

Omar Bey scored one of Elmhurst's four victories by defeating Tyler Keane 5-3 at at 133 pounds. Daniel Threlkeld added a 7-3 win over Vincent Silano at 174 pounds. Danny Balderas scored a 4-2 win over Hunter Ayen at 197 pounds while Vargas pinned David Varian at 285 pounds.

LORAS 21, ELMHURST 14 - Loras won six matches to hand the Bluejays a third straight defeat at the National Duals.

Elmhurst's Tyler Price started the dual with a 10-4 win over Ronald Triche at 125 pounds. Loras won the next five contests to open up an 18-3 lead. Threlkeld scored a 13-3 major decision over Ben Kindle at 174 pounds and Bobby Schillinger followed with an 11-3 major decision over Mathias Palmersheim at 184 pounds. Danny Balderas defeated Malcom Watson 10-3 to pull Elmhurst to within four points.

Loras' James Buss, ranked fifth in the nation at 285 pounds, downed Vargas 7-2 to make the final score 21-14 in favor of Loras.

Augsburg 34, Elmhurst 8
125 - Mike Fuenffinger (AC) pinned Tyler Price in 4:33
133 - Kirk Anderson (AC) pinned Omar Bey in 3:58
141 - Jim Spangler (EC) def. Marcus Hamer 9-0 major
149 - Ryan Prater (EC) def. Rashad Kennedy 9-1 major
157 - Will Keeter (AC) def. Nick DiNardo 4-2 OT
165 - Austin Boniface def. Mike Ryan 11-4
174 - Tom Teigen (AC) pinned Daniel Threlkeld in 2:37
184 - Miles Hammerlund (AC) def. Bobby Schillinger 4-3
197 - Matthew Hechsel (AC) def. Danny Balderas 16-2 major
285 - Chad Johnson (AC) def. Dan Vargas 6-0

Springfield 25, Elmhurst 15
125 - Tom Casper (SC) def. Tyler Price 6-4
133 - Omar Bey (EC_ def. Tyler Keane 5-3
141 - Jacob Strohman (SC) def. Jim Spanger 8-6
149 - Eric Hamrick (SC) pinned Matt Quigley in 0:38
157 - Devin Biscaha (SC) pinned Nick DiNardo in 4:14
165 - Dylan Foley (SC) def. Mike Ryan 13-1 Major
174 - Daniel Threlkeld (EC) def. Vincent Silano 7-3
184 - Michael Case (SC) def. Bobby Schillinger 7-3
197 - Danny Balderas (EC) def. Hunter Ayen 4-2
285 - Dan Varagas (EC) pinned David Varian in 3:45.

Loras 21, Elmhurst 14
125 - Tyler Price def. Ronald Triche 10-4
133 - Dearion Stokes (LC) def. Omar Bey 7-5
141 - Matt Holmes (LC) def. Matt Quigley 10-3
149 - John Gosinski (LC) def. Jim Spanger 5-3
157 - Steven Dewitt (LC0 def. Nick DiNardo 16-5 Major
165 - William Wood (LC) def. Ricky Stanton 19-3 Tech Fall
174 - Daniel Threlkeld (EC) def. Ben Kindle 13-3 Major
184 - Bobby Schillinger (EC) def. Mathias Palmersheim 11-3 Major
197 - Danny Balderas (EC) def. Malcom Watson 10-3
285 - James Buss (LC) def. Danny Vargas 7-2