NEWBERRY – The No. 9 Newberry Wolves finally open their home and dual schedule this Sunday, hosting the Ninth Annual South Carolina National Guard Newberry Duals.
The Wolves will wrestle four dual matches over the course of five sessions, facing off against Brewton-Parker, Cumberland (Tenn.), Spartanburg Methodist and Truett-McConnell. Also participating in the event are Coker, Limestone and UNC Pembroke.
HOW TO FOLLOW
VIDEO: All Newberry matches will be streamed at www.NewberryWolves.tv
LIVE SCORING: All matches will be featured at www.TrackWrestling.com
THE WOLVES’ LINEUP
125 lbs. – Junior Trung Duong is listed as Newberry’s probable starter. He is ranked third in Super Region II with a record of 8-4. Four of his wins are by major decision with one win by fall. He was also the champion of the UNCP Braves Classic.
133 lbs. – Jordan Simpson and Nick Lankford are listed as probable starters. Simpson has wrestled unattached in the fall semester and is ranked fourth in the region, with an 8-3 record and three wins by fall – all in the first period. Lankford is 2-4 on the season.
141 lbs. – Austin Solari Is listed as Newberry’s starter for the weekend. The Grand Canyon transfer is 4-5 on the season and was the runner-up at the Braves Classic. He has not lost to non-Division I competition this season.
149 lbs. – A number of Wolves could see action at this weight Sunday, as Jacob Hopper, Dyllan Greene and Zack Dobbins are all potential starters. Hopper has nine wins to lead the team this year. He’s 9-3 with three pins and two major decisions. He finished third at the Braves Classic at 141. Greene is 3-4 on the year, finishing fourth at the Braves Classic, while Dobbins wrestled unattached at 157 lbs. at the Braves Classic and finished fourth at that weight with a 5-2 record.
157 lbs. – Alex Rice and Codi Rothermel are listed as probable at this weight. Rice is a newcomer with Division I experience. He went 0-2 at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in his first action of the year. Rothermel is 4-3 on the year with a runner-up finish at the Braves Classic.
165 lbs. – This is another weight with plenty of options for the Wolves as Lukas Gilmore, Nick Young and Dennis Flores could all see action. Gilmore is ranked fifth in the region with a 7-5 record, including four wins by fall and a third place finish at the Braves Classic. Young is 4-5 on the year and was sixth at the Braves Classic, while Flores is 4-4 this season.
174 lbs. – Probable starters for Newberry are freshman Sean Kennedy and sophomore Chad Wood. Kennedy is 5-5 this season and was third at the Braves Classic, while Wood has not seen action yet this year.
184 lbs. – One of the nation’s top wrestlers at any weight will feature for the Wolves, as No. 2 nationally ranked Huston Evans will get the start. Evans is 8-3 in the fall, with two pins, the Braves Classic championship and runner-up honors at the N.C. State Wolfpack Open. He also won his first round match at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.
197 lbs. – Cody Brundage is ranked fourth in Super Region II and is slated as the starter. He is 7-5 with runner-up honors at the Braves Classic under his belt.
285 lbs. – A trio of Wolves could see action at this weight – Mike Kennedy, Patton Gossett and Daniel Adkins. Kennedy has a 3-4 mark, Gossett is 3-1 and was runner-up at the Braves Classic and Adkins is 4-3 with a sixth place finish at the Braves Classic.
LOOKING AT THE DUALS
Brewton-Parker Barons: The Barons are 1-3 in dual action with a win over Truett-McConnell. BPC is currently ranked No. 40 in the NAIA, with Nathan Pristavec ranked 16th nationally at 157 lbs.
Cumberland Bulldogs: The Bulldogs come into the event with a 3-3 record with wins over Southeastern, Anderson and Limestone. CU is ranked 16th nationally in the NAIA. Austin Meyn is ranked 6th nationally at 141 lbs., Nate Croley is 9th at 157 lbs., Orlando Nawade is 7th at 165 lbs., Dustin Harris is 11th at 184 lbs. and Tyler Smith is 11th at heavyweight.
Spartanburg Methodist Pioneers: This is the first of two duals this season against SMC this season. The Pioneers are led by Newberry All-American Matt Oliver, who is in his first season as the head coach. Tanner Chambers is ranked 7th nationally in the NJCAA at 174 lbs. SMC has a 1-4 dual record.
Truett-McConnell Bears: The Bears have been heavy on dual meets early in the year and already carry a 2-7 record. No TMC wrestlers are ranked in the NAIA.
