In what has become an annual event, MTSU kicked off the 2016-17 campaign with the Blue Raider Challenge Intrasquad Match Tuesday night in front of fans and alumni alike. MTSU returns 4 NCWA All-Americans and 4 NCWA Mid-Atlantic Conference Champions, the most in team history, and has positioned the Blue Raiders as a top 5preseason team heading into the season.

MATCH 1 – Austin Wells, JR (2016 NCWA 285lb Mid-Atlantic Conference Champion, and 2016 NCWA 285lb All-American – 4th place) vs Nick McGuiggan, FR (6th place TSSAA A-AA 220lbs)

     RESULT – Wells via Fall, 3rd

MATCH 2 – Cage Hargrove, SO (2015 NCWA 125lb National Qualifier) vs Briar Potter, FR (4th place TSSAA AAA 106lbs)

     RESULT – Potter via Fall, 1st

MATCH 3 – Dakota Clark, FR vs Nick King (2016 Brute Nationals 138lb Champion

RESULT – King via Fall, 1st

MATCH 4 – Josh Feuerbacher, SO (2016 NCWA National Qualifier) vs Garret Lawson, FR

RESULT – Feuerbacher via Decision

MATCH 5 – Michael King, SO (2016 NCWA 157lb All-American – 8th) vs Jordan Russell, SO (2014 NCWA National Qualifier)

RESULT – King via Decision

MATCH 6 – Lawrence Cotton, JR (2015, 2016 NCWA National Qualifer and 2016 NCWA Mid-Atlantic Conference 165lb Runner-up) vs Devin Russell, FR

RESULT – Cotton via Tech Fall

MATCH 7 – Carlos Garcia, JR (2014 NCWA Mid-Atlantic Conference 141lb Champion, and 2015 NCWA 141lb All-American – 5th) vs Dane Peoples, SO (2015 NCWA National Qualifier)

RESULT – Garcia vs Decision

MATCH 8 – Byron Smith, JR (2016 NCWA 125lb Mid-Atlantic Conference Champion, and 2016 NCWA 125lb All-American) vs Dakota Clark, FR

RESULT – Smith via Decision

MATCH 9 – Tyler McClendon, JR (2016 NCWA 197lb Mid-Atlantic Conference Champion) vs Austin Wells, JR (2016 NCWA 285lb Mid-Atlantic Conference Champion, and 2016 NCWA 285lb All-American – 4th place)

RESULT – McClendon via Fall, 3rd

MATCH 10 – Sean Kennedy, FR (2014 & 2015 TSSAA 170lb State Champion) vs Brett Brown (2016 TSSAA 195lb State Champion)

RESULT – Kennedy via Tech, 1st