Cedar Rapids, Iowa -- The sixth-ranked Bombers (9-0) posted two wins at the National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen National Duals Saturday, opening competition with a 37-12 win over #28 Heidelberg (4-3-2) then upsetting third-seeded Saint John's (Minn.) 24-10 in the quarterfinals. Ithaca is seeded sixth at the 16-team tournament; the Student Princes were the #15 seed and Saint John's (Minn.) is ranked third nationally with an 8-2 record. The Bombers will face #2 Wartburg (10-1), the second seed, Sunday at 11 a.m. All 16 teams in the field are ranked in the latest NWCA team poll; the tournament features the top seven teams in this week's ranking. Fans can follow the tournament online through the NWCA Livetime Scorebook or LiveSportsVideo's webcast (there is a $5 fee for the webcast).

Junior Jeremy Stierly (Owen J. Roberts/Pottstown, Pa.) made a successful return to the mat; Stierly, who had been ranked second at 141 pounds in the third national poll, hadn't wrestled since winning a pair of bouts at Wilkes' John Reese Duals on Nov. 13. He needed just 19 seconds to pin his opponent in Ithaca's win over Heidelberg, then upset the nation's fifth-ranked wrestler with a 7-1 decision as the Bombers knocked off the Johnnies. Stierly remained unbeaten on the season (5-0) and raised his career mark to 60-15 with his first fall of the season.

Two other Bombers recorded their 60th career win Saturday: juniors  Seth Ecker (Pottstown/Pottstown, Pa.) and Matt Mahon (Brighton/Rochester).

Ecker, ranked fifth nationally at 133 pounds, won by major decision against Heidelberg, then posted a win over Division III's eighth-ranked competitor. Ecker won his matches 11-3 and 6-0. He's now 14-3 this winter (7-2 in dual matches) and 60-15 as a Bomber.

Mahon, the nation's fourth-ranked heavyweight, opened competition with his 40th career pin, then won by forfeit against Saint John's. Mahon is 60-15 in his career and owns a 14-2 mark this season (8-0 in dual meets) with 12 falls.

Ithaca won the first five bouts against Heidelberg, earning bonus points in four of them. After freshman Dominick Giacalone (Cato-Meridian/Cato) opened with a 4-0 win at 125 pounds and Ecker followed with a major decision, three Bombers in a row pinned their opponents: Stierly, senior Blaine Woszczak (Wall/Manasquan, N.J.) and sophomore Derek Brenon (Immaculate Heart Central/Watertown). Woszczak, ranked fifth at 149 pounds, recorded a fall in 0:54 and Brenon, ranked seventh at 157 pounds, needed only 41 seconds to record his fifth pin of the season.

Wozsczak was a double-winner on the day, upsetting the Johnnies' third-ranked entrant, a two-time national champion, by winning 7-5 in sudden-death overtime. He's now 119-34 in his career, tying current assistant coach Marc Israel for fourth on Ithaca's all-time list, and moving to within 11 victories of becoming the program's career leader. Woszczak is 17-2 this season (7-0 in dual meets) with four falls.

Senior David Priest (Wyomissing Area/Douglassville, Pa.), ranked sixth at 174 pounds, rounded out Ithaca's winners against Heidelberg. He pinned his opponent in just 38 seconds; Priest is 15-2 on the year and 92-28 in his career.

Ithaca's upset of third-ranked Saint John's came in the first meeting between the two programs. The Bombers jumped out to a 15-0 lead after five bouts, beating three nationally ranked wrestlers in the process.

Junior Max Cohen (Williamsville East/East Amherst) evened his career record at 17-17 with a 7-2 win at 125 pounds. Ecker, Stierly and Woszczak followed with wins over three nationally ranked Johnnies  before Brenon won 10-7 at 157 pounds. He's now 17-1 this season and 36-7 in his career.

Josue Mendez (Brentwood/Brentwood) clinched the win with a 3-1 overtime victory at 184 pounds. He's 9-3 this winter and 22-18 in his Ithaca career.

The Bombers have won 43 of their last 45 dual meets and haven't lost to a Division III opponent since Wisconsin-LaCrosse (who faces top-ranked Augsburg in Sunday's other semifinal) posted a 23-15 win in the final of the 2009 Budd Whitehill National Duals at Lycoming.

#6 ITHACA 37, #28 Heidelberg 10
125: Dominick Giacalone (IC) dec. Devin Mazik, 4-0
133: #5 Seth Ecker (IC) major dec. Tom D'Alessandro, 11-3
141: Jeremy Stierly (IC) WBF Ben Kieffer, 0:19
149: #5 Blaine Woszczak (IC) WBF Andre Johnson, 0:54
157: #7 Derek Brenon (IC) WBF Jason Barnett, 0:45
165: Matt Curley (HC) WBF Dave Foley, 0:41
174: #6 David Priest (IC) WBF Dayne Williams, 0:38
184: Pat Rigsby (HC) dec. Keith Dickie, 4-1
197: Andrew Lorins (HC) dec. Shane Bartrum, 4-2
285: #4 Matt Mahon (IC) WBF Jerry Knapp, 2:40

#6 ITHACA, 24, #3 Saint John's (Minn.) 10
125: Max Cohen (IC) dec. Scott Padrnos, 7-2
133: #5 Seth Ecker (IC) dec. #8 Chad Henle, 6-0
141: Jeremy Stierly (IC) dec. #5 Chris Sandy, 7-1
149: #5 Blaine Woszczak (IC) dec. #3 Myanganbayar Batsukh, 7-5 (ot)
157: #7 Derek Brenon (IC) dec. Drew Larson, 10-7
165: #5 Matt Baarson (SJU) major dec. Nick Sanko, 13-5
174: Matthew Pfarr (SJU) dec. #6 David Priest, 2-1
184: Josue Mendez (IC) dec. Mitchell Hagan, 3-1 (ot)
197: #8 Dustin Baxter (SJU) dec. Shane Bartrum, 2-1
285: #4 Matt Mahon (IC) won by forfeit