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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – With an upset of a top-five team in the NAIA and a near upset of another, No. 18-ranked Southern Oregon turned heads Friday in its return to the NWCA National Dual Meet Championships at University of Northern Iowa's UNI-Dome.

The Raiders opened the NAIA bracket by knocking off No. 5 Doane (Neb.), 21-20, and their ensuing 20-16 quarterfinal loss to No. 4 Southeastern (Fla.) wasn't decided until the heavyweight match. They ended the day with a 46-0 consolation thumping of Central Methodist (Mo.), keeping hope alive for a top-five finish when the tournament concludes Saturday.

The Raiders (5-2 overall) match up with No. 11 Indiana Tech at 7 a.m. PST. They'll meet either No. 6 Campbellsville (Ky.) or No. 7 Cumberlands (Ky.) at 11 a.m., wrestling in the fifth-place dual if they defeat Indiana Tech or the seventh-place dual if they lose.

Doane became SOU's highest-ranked victim since the 2014-15 season. Unranked freshman Vonn Fenn set the tone at 125 pounds with an 18-3 technical fall over No. 17 Hunter Bennett, and No. 9 Simon Graeber (133) followed with a major decision against No. 14 Devin Avedissian before top-ranked Evan Potter (141) pinned Tristen Brown.

All-American Aaron Gandara (157) – who was making his season debut after being sidelined with an injury – and No. 5-ranked Alex Hernandez (174) won with decisions to give the Raiders a 21-7 lead. It was enough to withstand three straight Doane victories to end the dual.

Against Southeastern, No. 15 Andrew Herrera's 8-3 win against No. 18 Gentry Smith at 197 had the Raiders up 16-14 entering the final bout. Gabe Jacobs, the No. 3-ranked heavyweight in the NAIA, came through for the Fire with a first-round pin of Sebastian Echeverria to flip the lead and the outcome.

Graeber, Herrera and Echeverria each won by fall against Central Methodist. Four more Raiders added bonus points in their triumphs.

Gandara is a lock to make his way back into the rankings after defeating two top-18 opponents during his perfect day. Fenn, Graeber, Hernandez and Potter also went 3-0.

SOUTHERN OREGON 21, DOANE 20
125 – Vonn Fenn, SOU, tech. fall No. 17 Hunter Bennett, 18-3. (5-0)
133 – No. 9 Simon Graeber, SOU, major dec. No. 14 Devin Avedissian, 9-1. (9-0)
141 – No. 1 Evan Potter, SOU, p. Tristen Brown, 4:57. (15-0)
149 – No. 3 Nathan Lendt, DU, major dec. Travis Thorpe, 16-4. (15-4)
157 – Aaron Gandara, SOU, dec. No. 22 Benjamin Dobler, 7-0. (18-4)
165 – No. 12 Ben Miller, DU, dec. No. 25 Dylan Straley, 6-4. (18-7)
174 – No. 5 Alex Hernandez, SOU, dec. No. 24 Michael Scarponi, 5-3. (21-7)
184 – No. 4 Tyson Beauperthuy, DU, tech. fall Adrian Chavez-Morales, 23-8. (21-12)
197 – No. 2 Bradley Antesberger, DU, major dec. No. 15 Andrew Herrera, 12-3. (21-16)
285 – No. 6 Kasten Grape, DU, major dec. Sebastian Echeverria, 16-7. (21-20)

SOUTHEASTERN 20, SOUTHERN OREGON 16
125 – Vonn Fenn, SOU, major dec. Trevor Broom, 12-1. (4-0)
133 – No. 6 Andrew Voiles, SEU, dec. No. 9 Simon Graeber, 5-2. (4-3)
141 – No. 1 Evan Potter, SOU, dec. No. 13 Kael Brisker, 12-6. (7-3)
149 – No. 4 Parker Dobrocky, SEU, major dec. Travis Thorpe, 17-6. (7-7)
157 – Aaron Gandara, SOU, dec. No. 18 Andreus Bond, 2-1. (10-7)
165 – No. 14 Trace Braun, SEU, major dec. No. 25 Dylan Straley, 15-2. (10-11)
174 – No. 5 Alex Hernandez, SOU, dec. Graham Calhoun, 8-5. (13-11)
184 – Jeffrey Geller, SEU, dec. Adrian Chavez-Morales, 13-9. (13-14)
197 – No. 15 Andrew Herrera, SOU dec. No. 18 Gentry Smith, 8-3. (16-14)
285 – No. 3 Gabe Jacobs, SEU, p. Sebastian Echeverria, 1:56. (16-20)

SOUTHERN OREGON 46, CENTRAL METHODIST 0
125 – Vonn Fenn, SOU, wins by forfeit. (6-0)
133 – No. 9 Simon Graeber, SOU, p. Gavin Shoush, 0:56. (12-0)
141 – No. 1 Evan Potter, SOU, major dec. Chuck Fitzgerald, 17-4. (16-0)
149 – Travis Thorpe, SOU, dec. Lukas Eagle, 4-1. (19-0)
157 – Aaron Gandara, SOU, dec. No. 15 Donald Griffin, 5-2. (22-0)
165 – No. 25 Dylan Straley, SOU, tech. fall Cody Hughes, 15-0. (27-0)
174 – No. 5 Alex Hernandez, SOU, major dec. Sincere Hall-Osbourne, 17-4. (31-0)
184 – Adrian Chavez-Morales, SOU, dec. Jake Henson, 10-3. (34-0)
197 – No. 15 Andrew Herrera, SOU, p. No. 23 Cameron Cornman, 2:50. (40-0)
285 – Sebastian Echeverria, SOU, p. Austin Foye, 6:30. (46-0)