NEWBERRY, S.C. — In a matchup of powerhouses in the South Atlantic Conference Carolinas, Newberry Wrestling (9-4, 7-1 SACC) and Lander (18-2, 8-0 SACC) would meet in Eleazer Arena to do battle. This would be one of the highlight duals of the season as both teams come in riding streaks, with Newberry winning their last four duals and Lander winning their last nine. With Lander being ranked the second best team in the country (NWCA, The Open Mat) and number one in the SACC, the Wolves, #20 in the country (The Open Mat) and third in the SACC, would look to come out and make a statement and show why Eleazer is a tough place to wrestle for opposing teams.
Starting at 125 lbs, James Joplin would get on the board first for the visitors, pinning Zach Shupp (Fairfield, Ohio) at 2:20, with the next match resulting in Elijah Lusk scoring a 9-0 major decision over 133 lbs Fletcher Swindall (Alexandria, Ala.) The Bearcats continued their run with Zeth Brower landing a close 7-3 decision over 141 lbs Josh Blatt (Albemarle, N.C.) before 149 lbs Devan Moore (Baxley, Ga.) got the Wolves on the board with a 8-4 decision win over Jack Tangen.
157 lbs Will Evans (Richmond Hill, Ga.), in his first action of the season, dropped his first match of the year to Gage Bernall in a 9-2 decision, and David Hunsberger defeated 165 lbs P.J. Wunderlich (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) by a 6-2 decision. 174 lbs Dayton Fields (Seneca, Mo.) once again proved his dominance in the region by winning his match against Jack Bond by a 6-3 decision to attempt to spark a run of form for the Wolves, but, in the following match, 184 lbs ZeBrandon Gant (Springfield, Ga.) lost a heartbreaker to Logan Hall by a sudden death takedown
197 lbs Khris Walton (Merrillville, Ky.) was defeated in his match to Anthony Yacovetti by a close 3-1 decision, and for the last match of the night, 285 lbs Devon Rice (Rock Hill, S.C.) took the match into overtime but was pinned by Juan Edmond-Holmes in overtime at 6:50
Newberry will host their first and only tournament of the season with the Newberry Open in Eleazer Arena, kicking off at 9 AM on February 5 before hosting the Mount Olive Trojans in a SACC matchup at home on February 8 at 7 PM.
LANDER 31, Newberry 6
125: James Joplin (LU) over Zach Shupp (NC), Fall 2:20
133: Elijah Lusk (LU) over Fletcher Swindall (NC), MD 9-0
141: Zeth Brower (LU) over Josh Blatt (NC), Dec. 7-3
149: Devan Moore (NC) over Jack Tangen (LU), Dec. 8-4
157: Gage Bernall (LU) over Will Evans (NC), Dec. 9-2
165: David Hunsberger (LU) over P.J. Wunderlich (NC), Dec. 6-2
174: Dayton Fields (NC) over Jack Bond (LU), Dec. 6-3
184: Logan Hall(LU) over ZeBrandon Gant (NC), SV-1 (3-1)
197: Anthony Yacovetti (LU) over Khris Walton (NC), Dec. 3-1
285: Juan Edmond-Holmes (LU) over Devon Rice (NC), Fall 6:50
