STORM LAKE, Iowa (Feb. 8, 2025) - The Buena Vista men's wrestling team hosted Simpson College on Saturday in the annual Ballroom Brawl, but despite jumping out to an early lead, the Beavers came up short in the end, 31-17.

BVU pushed the tables aside down in the Grand Ballroom inside of Siebens Forum and placed mats down with the view of the lake in the background as it took on the Storm on Senior Day. Four seniors - Jesus Ceja, Nolan Nguyen, Jonah Siebert and Michael de la Cruz - were honored during a pre-dual ceremony for their part of the BVU wrestling program.

Junior Tyler Japp earned a forfeit at 125 pounds to begin the dual before senior Nolan Nguyen, who was among the group honored before the dual, rolled to a 19-3 technical fall after getting a late takedown and two-point nearfall. That win brought the crowd to its feet and gave the Beavers an early 11-0 advantage.

Simpson then recorded a pair of narrow decisions around a major decision which began a string of five straight victories by the Storm. The last of those two wins came by technical fall and a pin as the visitors went in front 21-11 with three matches remaining.

Trevor Kruse kept the Beavers within striking distance as he brought the crowd back to life with his third pin of the year and his team-leading fifth dual victory. Kruse led 3-1 after the first period and after his opponent chose down to begin the second, Kruse was able to ride him out before turning him over late in the second period for the pin that made it 21-17.

The Storm (1-6, 1-6 A-R-C) bounced back, however, at 197 pounds with a fall that secured the dual before ending with a major decision at 285.

Buena Vista is now 1-12 on the year (0-7 A-R-C) and wraps up the regular season conference schedule by hosting Luther College on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m.