INDIANAPOLIS — The Bellarmine University wrestling team went 3-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships while knocking off a pair of ranked opponents.

Taking place at the University of Indianapolis' Nicoson Hall, the GLVC Championships consisted of seven teams with each wrestling six duals divided evenly over two days.

Bellarmine (8-5) went 1-2 on Saturday, falling 29-17 to t-No. 12 Indianapolis, dominating t-No. 12 Drury 35-12 and succumbing 25-15 to No. 15 Maryville. On Sunday, the Knights fell 26-15 to t-No. 4 McKendree but romped 40-10 over t-No. 25 Ouachita Baptist and 47-10 over Truman State.

"I thought they did a great job," Knights Coach Spencer Adams said. "I'm very proud of the team as a whole. I think we are turning another corner in the program." 

Sophomore Andrew Sams (174) went 6-0 in the tournament and had a marquee win versus a highly ranked opponent from McKendree. Junior Gage Branson (149) collected five wins.

Indianapolis 29, Bellarmine 15
Bellarmine tallied four wins in this match. Freshman Brandon Lucas (125) and Branson both recorded major decisions, Sams secured a 6-2 decision and freshman Brian Stears (285) pinned his opponent.

Bellarmine 35, Drury 12
The Knights delivered their first victory over a ranked opponent at the tournament. Lucas and Branson both supplied pins while Sams and Stears each posted a major decision. Sophomore Brett Bryant (197) won a 9-5 decision and sophomore Eric Beck (165) and junior Andy Dobben (184) won by forfeit.

Maryville 25, Bellarmine 15
Branson needed less than a minute to record a pin, Sams clipped Matt Pratt 4-3 and Bryant won by forfeit for the Knights.

McKendree 26, Bellarmine 15
Bellarmine posted four wins against this top 5 opponent. Sams delivered the Knights' most high-profile victory at the GLVC Championships with a 9-8 decision over second-ranked Nick Foster. Sophomore Alex Rhine (141) tallied a pin, Beck won a 3-2 decision over Frankie Falatico and Stears captured an 8-4 decision over Vinnie Scalelta.

Bellarmine 40, Ouachita Baptist 10
Bellarmine won seven of the 10 matches while defeating its second nationally ranked opponent of the tournament. The Knights were helped by some forfeit wins (freshman Casey Ragle, 133, Beck and Dobben), but Lucas, Branson and Sams all amassed falls and Rhine had a major decision as well.

Bellarmine 47, Truman State 10
This was an easy victory for the Knights because of mass forfeit wins — Lucas, Branson, freshman Gavin Grime (157), Dobben and Stears — but they also got falls from Rhine and Sams and a tech fall from Beck.

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