Warriors Drop Hard-Fought Dual to St. Ambrose, 22-32

FOREST CITY, IA- Waldorf University came out swinging Friday night in Forest City, but an early surge wasn't enough as the Warriors fell to St. Ambrose, 32-22, in dual action. The matchup featured an explosive start for Waldorf and several tightly contested bouts, but key swing matches ultimately tilted the final result in favor of the Fighting Bees.

The tone was set at the opening whistle by Malachi Aispuro, who delivered one of the most dominant performances of the dual. Wrestling at his weight class, Aispuro piled up takedowns from start to finish, constantly pressuring his opponent and controlling the pace. His offensive output earned him a major decision, giving Waldorf a valuable bonus-point victory and an early lead on the team scoreboard.

But as the match moved into the later periods, the tempo shifted. Avila began to slow, and Zeman took advantage, methodically erasing the deficit. With each exchange, the momentum that had once favored Waldorf started to tilt in St. Ambrose's direction. By the final whistle, Zeman had completed the comeback, taking the decision and swinging crucial team points to St. Ambrose.

That 149-pound result proved especially costly, as it allowed St. Ambrose to seize control of the dual and push the overall score in its favor. While Aispuro's early major decision highlighted Waldorf's potential and grit, the narrow losses in key spots made the difference in a dual that otherwise featured stretches of strong wrestling from the Warriors.

Despite the 32-22 setback, the dual offered clear positives for Waldorf. The aggressive start, the ability to earn bonus points, and the experience gained in pressure-filled bouts like Avila's will all matter as the season moves forward. If the Warriors can extend the intensity they showed in the opening matches across an entire lineup and full seven minutes, they'll be in position to flip results like this the next time a close dual comes down to a few decisive weight classes.