Ernest Allen

Men's Wrestling 1/23/2023 9:52:00 PM Tarayceus Jeffries, Athletic Communications Assistant

Lions No Match For The Wolves At Home

Newberry Wrestling displays another strong showing with a shutout win in Eleazer

NEWBERRY, S.C. — Days after the Wolves traveled to Emory, Virginia, and left victorious after big wins against Limestone and Emory & Henry on January 18, Newberry Wrestling returned back to Eleazer Arena and welcomed the Lions from Emmanuel College. In a clash of South Atlantic Conference Carolinas and Super Region II teams, the Wolves would look to add on to their four dual win streak in conference action while the Lions would look to build off of their previous dual action with a win against Coker.

125 lbs Zach Shupp (Fairfield, Ohio) would get things started for the Wolves, but it would be one of the easiest of the night when he would win his match by forfeit. With the actual first match of the dual, 133 lbs Fletcher Swindall (Alexandria, Ala.) would defeat Harvey Ridings by a major decision, 8-0. 141 lbs Josh Blatt (Albemarle, N.C.) would follow suit with a victory of his own over Joshua Kincaid in a close 11-10 decision before 149 lbs Devan Moore (Baxley, Ga.) would tech fall Clayton Frost at 2:07 by a score of 16-1.

157 lbs Nolan Wheeler (Dahlonega, Ga.) would beat Gage Shetley by a 4-2 decision, and 165 lbs P.J. Wunderlich (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) would handedly defeat Connor Smith by a 14-7 decision, narrowly missing out on a major. 174 lbs Dayton Fields (Seneca, Mo.), fresh off of being ranked the top wrestler in his weight class in Super Region II, would show why he's ranked #1 in the region by pinning Grady Tisdale in 56 seconds, followed by 184 lbs ZeBrandon Gant (Springfield, Ga.) beating Markis Hill, ranked #4 in the region, by an 8-4 decision.

197 lbs Khris Walton (Merrillville, Ky.) would come out the gates strong, pinning Micha Clemson 19 seconds before the first period would end, and, to complete the shutout win, 285 lbs Devon Rice (Rock Hill, S.C.) would get the crowd on their feet with a pin of Ja'Mond Goodwine at 1:17.

In the four extra matches on the night, 133 JP Gamez (Dade City, Fla.), 184 Des Marshall (St. Petersburg, Fla.), 184 lbs Armando Acosta (Gainesville, Fla.), and 197 lbs John Parker (Temecula, Calif.) would all secure wins with Acosta and Parker winning outside of their regular weight classes. Gamez would win a 10-5 decision over Eli Holton, Marshall would defeat Owen Moss by a 13-2 major decision, Acosta (wrestling a weight class up at 197) would beat Dylan Lyerly by decision, 11-5, and Parker (regularly wrestling at 197 but wrestled at heavyweight for this match) would claim victory over Anthony Olea by major decision, 14-2.

Newberry will have over a week until their next dual to rest and recuperate over the weekend, but it will be a big one for the first day of February as top 10 Lander University (#2 NWCA Coaches Poll; #7 The Open Mat) comes into Eleazer Arena to take on the Wolves, with the first match scheduled for 7 PM.

NEWBERRY 45, Emmanuel 0

125: Zach Shupp (NC) wins by forfeit

133: Fletcher Swindall (NC) over Harvey Ridings (EC), MD 8-0

141: Josh Blatt (NC) over Josh Kincaid (EC), Dec. 11-10

149: Devan Moore (NC) over Clay Frost (EC), TF 16-1 (2:07)

157: Nolan Wheeler (NC) over Gage Shetley (EC), Dec. 4-2

165: P.J. Wunderlich (NC) over Connor Smith (EC), Dec. 14-7

174: Dayton Fields (NC) over Grady Tisdale (EC), Fall (0:56)

184: ZeBrandon Gant (NC) over Markis Hill (EC), Dec. 8-4

197: Khris Walton (NC) over Micha Clemson (EC), Fall (2:41)

285: Devon Rice (NC) over Ja'mon Goodwine (EC), Fall (1:17

Extra 133: JP Gamez (NC) over Eli Holton (EC), Dec. 10-5