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Newberry College Athletics

Men's Wrestling 1/3/2022 5:42:00 PM Turner Kirby, Athletic Communications Assistant

Wolves Complete Comeback to Beat UNC Pembroke to Open 2022

Wolves Win Second Straight Conference Dual

Newberry, S.C. - After going down 12-3 four bouts in, the Newberry Wrestling team won five of the next six bouts to earn a hard fought 21-15 win over the UNC Pembroke Braves on Monday afternoon in Eleazer Arena. This was the second straight SACC dual win for the Wolves after starting 0-2 in conference competition while the Braves dropped their conference opener and fell to 1-4 on the season.

The match got started at 184 where Armando Acosta earned a hard fought 3-2 decision over Jovaun Johnson with an escape in the third period to put Newberry up 3-0 early. That win set the tone for how the rest of the afternoon would go as all but two of the bouts would be decisions and six of those eight were within two points. The Braves would fight back as they would rally off three straight wins, including a pin at 197 to flip the score line from 3-0 Wolves to 12-3 Braves. However, the Wolves would be granted a lifeline as Pembroke would have to forfeit the 133 pound bout and just like that Pembroke's lead was cut to 12-9. Devan Moore would follow that up with a gritty 12-6 decision at 141 to tie the match up at 12 and then defending National Champion, Isiah Royal, would make his return to the lineup at 149 with a 3-2 decision to give the Wolves a 15-12 lead. Pembroke would respond right back as Cliff Owens would defeat Will Evans at 157. Nolan Wheeler would give the Scarlet and Gray the lead once again with an extremely hard fought 7-5 decision at 165 to make it 18-15, and, for the second dual in a row, Caleb Spears would seal the match with a 5-3 decision to where he used a late take down to give him breathing room in a bout that sat at 3-2 for pretty much the entire second and third periods.

The Wolves look to continue this momentum as they travel to NWCA National Duals in Louisville, Ky. and will return to Eleazer Arena on Thursday as they face the Coker Cobras in a SACC dual.

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Players Mentioned

Will Evans: Sophomore

Devan Moore: Sophomore

Isiah Royal: Senior

Caleb Spears: Senior

Nolan Wheeler: 5' 8"; Freshman

Armando Acosta: 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Will Evans
: Sophomore

Devan Moore
: Sophomore

Isiah Royal
: Senior

Caleb Spears
: Senior

Nolan Wheeler
: 5' 8"; Freshman

Armando Acosta
: 5' 8"; Freshman