LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bellarmine wrestling needed just one dual to record a win in the 2021-22 season and will be looking for more at the Patriot Duals, hosted by George Mason, on Saturday.
 
Following a 19-18 win over SIUE and 40-3 loss to Indiana, the Knights will face George Mason, Bucknell, and Averett in Fairfax, Va. 
 
The Patriots opened their season at the Southeast Open with 19 different teams in competition, Bucknell begins its season this weekend, while Averett placed second out of eight teams at the Ned McGinley invitational last Saturday.
 
This Saturday represents the first road action for the Knights and first of four straight road trips. 

Bellarmine's season opening duals at Knights Hall on Sunday brought an energetic start for the program in its second season in Division I.  Knights Head Coach Ned Shuck earned his first win at Bellarmine with the victory over SIUE and was proud of the team's initial performance:

"It feels great as a coach when you ask your team to fight like madmen out there and they totally deliver," Shuck said. "The guys wrestled with passion.  They relentlessly attacked and created an environment that our huge crowd could get behind and appreciate.  I can't thank our fans enough for the huge outpouring of people that showed up for our first dual this year! We can't wait to pack Knights Hall again."
 
Bellarmine claimed six victories on Sunday from Jack Parker (125), Max Dansereau (133), Mitch Collica (149), Cole Nance (157), Devan Hendricks (165), and Eric Beck (174).  Nance's pin in the SIUE dual was BU's first of the year and helped secure the win.  Devan Hendricks defeated Indiana's Sammy Cokeley in the second dual for Bellarmine's first ever individual win over a Big Ten opponent.

"Our match against SIUE really captured the mentality and culture that we are trying to build, and I was impressed," senior captain Gavin Grime added after the match.  "Cole Nance deserves a huge shout out.  He stepped up big time with that fall, and that goes back to his hard work and training."
 
The Knights will try and carry the feeling from their first win into Saturday's road duals beginning at 10:00 a.m.

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