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Turner Kirby - Newberry College Athletics

Men's Wrestling 3/12/2022 2:52:00 PM Turner Kirby, Athletic Communications Assistant

Royal Places Fourth, Spears Places Seventh on Day Two of NCAA Championships

Both Finish Their Careers on the Podium

St. Louis, Mo. - After becoming the 45th and 46th All-Americans in program history, Isiah Royal and Caleb Spears returned to Chaifetz Arena on Saturday to wrestle to see where they would finish on the podium. For Royal, he was looking for his second national title in a row and, for Spears, a chance to end his career with a third place finish.

Royal would get things started in his 149 lb semifinal where he found himself in a defensive duel against Sam Turner of Nebraska-Kearney. Both wrestlers would trade escapes from the bottom position in the second and third period and Royal, despite coming close numerous times, could not secure a takedown and the match would go on to sudden victory. However, Turner would secure a takedown early into the first sudden victory period to hand Royal his first loss of the season.

Caleb Spears was up next as he wrestled in his consolation quarterfinal match at 174 lbs. However, Spears could never really get on the offensive as would fall in a 12-3 major decision to Dillon Walker of Mercyhurst and Spears would wrestle for seventh.

Royal would get a chance to bounce back as he would wrestle in the consolation semifinals and would do just that as he shook off a quick takedown from Logan Bailey of Indianapolis to win via an 8-4 decision to send him to the third place match later in the session.

Royal's third place match would be a back and forth affair but the defending national champion could not find his footing and fell via a 6-2 decision to Jacob Ealy of Pitt-Johnstown. Royal finishes his career as one of the most decorated wrestlers in Newberry history as a five-time national qualifier and a four-time All-American.

Rounding out the weekend would be Caleb Spears wrestling for seventh in his final match of his career. Spears would use two takedowns and fend off Allen Michel of New Mexico Highlands to end his career with a seventh place finish at NCAAs.

The Wolves will travel back home tomorrow and look forward to the 2022-23 season starting in the Winter of this year.

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Players Mentioned

Caleb Spears: Redshirt Junior

Isiah Royal: 149 lbs; Junior

Players Mentioned

Caleb Spears
: Redshirt Junior

Isiah Royal
: Junior
: 149 lbs