Turner Kirby - Newberry College Athletics

Men's Wrestling 3/11/2022 9:16:00 PM Turner Kirby, Athletic Communications Assistant

Royal and Spears Secure All-American Berths on Day One of NCAA Championships

45th and 46th All-Americans in Program History

St Louis, Mo. - Caleb Spears came just short last year of reaching his goal of being an All-American but he wouldn't let his final season end the same way. As the clock ticked toward zero in his match against Pitt-Jamestown's Brock Biddle, a three time All-American, that goal became a reality as he would secure a top eight spot on day one of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, Mo. Isiah Royal will be joining spears as he went 2-0 on the day. The Wolves currently sit tied for 11th with 15.5 points.

Session I

Evan Carrigan would get the first session started against Christian Mejia of McKendree. Mejia would take down Carrigan late in the first period and Carrigan would work hard in the second at the neutral position but Mejia would fend off every shot that Evan threw his way. Carrigan would start the last period on top and come close to earning near fall points but couldn't get the count despite riding out the full two minute period giving Mejia the 2-1 decision and moving Carrigan to the consolation bracket pigtail.

Timothy Decatur was next on the mat for the Wolves and came close several times to getting the takedown against Jack Huffman of Augustana but fell to a 4-1 decision to send him to the consolation bracket.

At 149, Isiah Royal would find himself in a dogfight as he would take down against Northern State's Wyatt Turnquist early in the first quarter but Turnquist would find his way out of it to make it 2-1. Royal would escape from bottom to start the second period to make it 3-1 but Turnquist would return the favor to start the third. Royal was able to see out the rest of the match to keep his perfect season alive

Talon Seitz took to the mat next at 165 and multiple near fall opportunities for Matt Malcom of Nebraska-Kearney would do Seitz in as he moved to the consolation bracket.

The last first round matchup came at 174 where Caleb Spears was locked in a fairly even match with Daniel Beemer of Ashland for the first two and a half minutes. But Beemer made a mistake as he took a shot at Spears' legs which Spears was able to counter and put the Eagle wrestler on his back for a four count near fall, coming within inches of the pin. After Beemer partially rolled out of the first near fall, Spears got him back on his back and was able to put both shoulder blades to the mat for the pin. This is the second year in a row that the Wolves have had a pin in the NCAA Tournament with Will Evans getting the pin last year to become an All-American.

Evan Carrigan concluded the session with his consolation pigtail bout and Carrigan couldn't quite get on the offensive quick enough against Jaxson Rohman of Augustana as a 9-2 decision would end his run in St. Louis.

Session II

Timothy Decatur would start the session off at 133 and would battle hard against Collin Wickramaratna of Kutztown and would get it to within a takedown going into the third period. However, a six point play by Wickramaratna would put the match out of reach as Decatur would end his run with a 13-7 loss.

Next to the mat for his quarterfinal bout was Isiah Royal and Royal would have a much easier time compared to his first round match as he would use a four point near fall where he came within inches of pinning Josh Laubach of Alderson Broaddus but Laubach would avoid the pin. Royal would add another late takedown plus the riding time point to make it a 10-1 major decision and make Royal the first four-time All-American in program history.

Talon Seitz would come almost immediately after Royal in his 165 lb consolation match and, like Decatur, would keep the match close for the first two periods but would ultimately come up short in an 8-2 decision against Miles Fitzgerald of Augustana.

Caleb Spears would come next in a quarterfinal match at 174 lbs and would get taken down to his back and pinned less than a minute into the match giving Spears his first loss since the Midwest Classic in December.

Spears would get a chance at redemption in a win-or-go home consolation bracket match at 174 and Spears would not let this opportunity slide as he would get two takedowns in the third period to secure a 10-5 decision and clinched him finishing his career on the NCAA podium.

Spears and Royal will both return to action in Session III inside Chaifetz Arena on Saturday. Royal will wrestle for a spot in the national championship match on Saturday night and Spears will wrestle to try to secure a third place finish.

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Players Mentioned

Evan Carrigan: Freshman

Will Evans: Sophomore

Caleb Spears: Redshirt Junior

Timothy Decatur: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Isiah Royal: 149 lbs; Junior

Players Mentioned

Evan Carrigan
: Freshman

Will Evans
: Sophomore

Caleb Spears
: Redshirt Junior

Timothy Decatur
: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Isiah Royal
: Junior
: 149 lbs