The Lakeland College wrestling team started strong with wins in three of its first four matches before the team's small size caught up with it in a dual meet with Concordia University Wisconsin Wednesday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies were defeated 32-10 in the dual, in large part due to the visiting Falcons receiving 18 points on three forfeits. Lakeland entered just six wrestlers in the match but won three of six individual matches.

Ian Gioacchini (So.-Kaukauna, Wis.), Marcus McCauley (Sr.-Hillpoint, Wis.) and Mitchell Fucile (Jr.-Chilton, Wis.) all won matches as the Muskies took an early 12-10 lead in the dual. Gioacchini edged Josh Curcio 9-6 at 141 pounds, McCauley won a 7-1 decision over Tristan Zubinski at 157 lbs. and Fucile followed with an 11-3 major decision over Quentin Lueck, scoring a takedown in the final seconds to get an extra point.

Concordia won the next three contested matches to pull ahead in the overall dual scoring. CUW's Mason Mergener pinned Zavier Gonzalez (Fr.-Norway, Mich.) at 174 lbs., Mitchell Slatton edged Wesley Colton (Sr.-Rockton, Ill.) 4-3 in an excellent match at 184 lbs., and Mason Baumgartner scored a win by technical fall over Eddie Terres (Sr.-Escanaba, Mich.) at 197 lbs.  The Falcons added two more wins by forfeit to wrap up the scoring in the match.

A pair of exhibition matches preceded the dual match. Concordia's Eric Martinson won a 10-6 decision over Anthony Chiarello (Fr.-New Glarus, Wis.) at 165 lbs., and Lakeland's Mason Lind (So.-Brandon, Wis.) held off Thomas Schmidt for a 3-2 win at 174 lbs.

The Muskies now have a break until the new year, next competing at the University of Chicago Duals Jan. 2.