NEWBERRY, S.C. — In what would be the last home dual of the season, Newberry Men's Wrestling played host to the Trojans from the University of Mount Olive in a matchup between the number three and number four teams in the South Atlantic Conference Carolinas. The Wolves looked to rebound from the last outing in dual action as they were defeated at home by the Lander Bearcats back on February 1. With the Trojans coming off of a sizable 54-0 victory against Emory & Henry, Newberry needed to defend the home field advantage and end on a high note in conference play and for Senior Night.
Starting the night off at 141 lbs, Josh Blatt (Albemarle, N.C.) started off strong for the home team, winning a decision 8-3 over Hayden Waddell. Dallas Wilson defeated senior 149 lbs Devan Moore (Baxley, Ga.) by decision 7-2 in the ensuing match before senior 157 lbs Will Evans (Richmond Hill, Ga.) secured his first win in dual action on the year, pinning Tyler Vinson at 2:05.
The Trojans came back to win the fourth match of the night, with Mike Vernagallo beating 165 lbs P.J. Wunderlich (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) by tech fall (16-0, 4:57), but the number one wrestler at 174 lbs in Super Region II, Dayton Fields (Seneca, Mo.), made sure to avenge the loss of his teammate by winning against Seth Thomas by a 19-2 tech fall. 184 lbs ZeBrandon Gant (Springfield, Ga.) continued the winning ways for the Wolves, securing a 14-5 major decision over Noah Williams, and 197 lbs Khris Walton (Merrillville, Ky.) did the same, winning by major decision over Jonathan Clack.
The following match resulted in Nico Ramirez beating senior 285 lbs Devon Rice (Rock Hill, S.C.) by a 2-0 decision before 125 lbs Zach Shupp (Fairfield, Ohio) put the dual out of reach for the Trojans by pinning Lens Mathurin in 37 seconds. To end the dual, senior 133 lbs Fletcher Swindall (Alexandria, Ala.) got the crowd on their feet with a pin over Taylor Robinson at 1:03.
In the lone extra match of the night, 184 lbs Armando Acosta (Gainesville, Fla.) would defeat Devin McCorkle by a 15-3 major decision.
The Wolves will be back in action in two days time, as they will travel to the capital city of Columbia to take on the Allen Yellow Jackets on February 10 at 7 PM.
NEWBERRY 34, Mount Olive 11 *match started at 141 lbs*
125: Zach Shupp (NC) over Lens Mathurin (UMO), Fall (0:37)
133: Fletcher Swindall (NC) over Taylor Robinson (UMO), Fall (1:03)
141: Josh Blatt (NC) over Hayden Waddell (UMO), Dec. 8-3
149: Dallas Wilson (UMO) over Devan Moore (NC), Dec. 7-2
157: Will Evans (NC) over Tyler Vinson (UMO), Fall (2:05)
165: Mike Vernagallo (UMO) over P.J. Wunderlich (NC), TF 16-0 (4:57)
174: Dayton Fields (NC) over Seth Thomas (UMO), TF 19-2 (5:00)
184: ZeBrandon Gant (NC) over Noah Williams (UMO), MD 14-5
197: Khris Walton (NC) over Jonathan Clack (UMO), MD 12-2
285: Nico Ramirez (UMO) over Devon Rice (NC), Dec. 2-0
Extra: Armando Acosta (NC) over Devin McCorkle (UMO), MD 15-3
