HAMPTON - The Apprentice School wrestling team split its opening two matches of the Virginia Duals, knocking off Muhlenberg in thrilling fashion before falling to NCAA Division II No. 18 Kutztown in the quarterfinals.

The Builders started the tournament with an opening round matchup against eighth-seeded Muhlenberg. The Mules jumped out to an early 6-0 lead before Bruno Alves jumped the Builders back to within one with a 21-5 technical fall at 133. Apprentice started reeling off points at 149 as David Norris got a 7-3 decision to trim the lead to 9-8 before Logan Eastman gave the Builders the lead with a win by injury default.

Leading 14-9, Apprentice got three more points from a win by Landon Kissell and a 7-1 decision, but the Mules answered with back-to-back falls to take a 21-17 lead. David McElravy, Jr. got the momentum back for the Builders with a 12-1 major decision to tie the match at 21-21 before Caleb Hartung went back-and-forth at 285 before earning a fall at the 2:11 mark to get the 27-21 win and advance to the winner's side of the bracket.

Apprentice ran into No. 18 Kutztown in the second round and got off to a great start with a forfeit win at 125 and a 7-2 decision win for Jakob Brown at 141 to take a 9-3 lead. The Bears then showed off their strength, earning four technical falls and two falls to jump ahead 35-9 before DJ Uribes won at 285 by injury default to get to a 35-15 final score.

The Builders will be back in action tomorrow afternoon as they wrestle against Johns Hopkins at 4:30 p.m. The winner will wrestle either Elizabethtown or Averett for fifth at 8 p.m. while the loser will face the loser of the other match at 6 p.m. for seventh place.