Takedown Report

Carolinas’ Colleges’ News (2021) – # 2

TDR Editor’s Notes ; The following collection spans over the college teams in North and South Carolina. The newest one is Montreat College, deep in the mountains of western North Carolina in #1. ACC Teams in Duke, (#10), UNC (#6) and N.C. State (#8 & #12) are also included in other selections. Several teams from the Southern Conference are in the Carolinas and are mentioned. We also have several strong D-II school teams in the Carolinas and there have been a number of new programs have started in recent years. Read on.
E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – Montreat building winning culture with inaugural wrestling team
Swannanoa — (WLOS) It looks like a lot of structures you whiz by on Highway 70 in Swannanoa. Berry’s Farm & Garden Center stands tall in it’s tan tin glory, but the seed growing inside isn’t of the agricultural variety. The building was donated to the Montreat College athletic program and currently houses the schools first wrestling team. “It’s about hard work,” stated freshman 133 pound wrestler Braden Wharton. “It’s about hard work, we’re in here to work hard.” Wharton is one of 30 wrestlers on the inaugural Cavalier team recruited by head coach Jake Britt. “You have to kind of sell them more or less on the idea of what you want the culture to be,” explained Britt. “That’s why these young men are here because they admire what I would like for the culture to be.” … rest of story at _{^{https://wlos.com/sports/game-changer/montreat-building-winning-culture-with-inaugural-wrestling-team?mc_cid=5a9932a916&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
and Four pins lead the way as No. 14 Tigers finally start their season with a win over Montreat
MONTREAT, N.C. — The season opener went as planned for No. 14 Campbellsville University men’s wrestling as the Tigers only lost one match en route to a 51-6 win over Montreat University.   
Campbellsville (1-0) has seen many of its early season duals cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19 but the Tigers are on the road to face two more opponents on Saturday. CU duels with Truett-McConnell and Keiser University starting at 11 a.m. ET.  Today it was an early forfeit win at 125 pounds and the Tigers never really looked back. At 141, Tombola Sindihebura dominated with a 19-9 decision over Alex Chester before Luke Story earned the first pin of the day – in the first round – over Landon Chambers at 149 pounds.  With the Tigers leading now 16-6 after four matches, … rest of the story at _{^{https://campbellsvilletigers.com/news/2021/1/22/mens-wrestling-four-pins-lead-the-way-as-no-14-tigers-finally-start-their-season-with-a-win-over-montreat.aspx?mc_cid=63515b3c44&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

2 } – Limestone Wrestling Opens Season with Dominant Win Over Mount Olive
GAFFNEY, S.C. — The Limestone University men’s wrestling team got off to a fast start in their season opening bout as they were able to take home a 40-4 victory of the Trojans of the University of Mount Olive in the Timken Center on Sunday, January 17. Junior Kevin Radcliff (Park Forest, Ill.) kicked off the day for the Saints at 125 lbs. where he was able to control the pace of the match early and carry it throughout the entire seven minute duration, picking up the 15-4 major decision over Lens Mathurin to give the Saints the early 4-0 lead. Freshman Weston Nguyen (Lancaster, S.C.) earned a season opening victory of his own over Isaiah Olive with an 8-1 decision while senior Majid Corbett (Sumter, S.C.) turned in the first of three pins for the Saints on the day as he extended the Blue and Gold’s lead out to 13-0 with pin his the first period of his match-up with Seth Thomas. … rest of story at _{^{https://golimestonesaints.com/news/2021/1/17/mens-wrestling-limestone-wrestling-opens-season-with-dominant-win-over-mount-olive.aspx?mc_cid=c35ed28379&mc_eid=%5B2ef7cbca4b%5D}}
and Limestone Wrestling Continues Winning Ways Against Emmanuel
FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. — The Limestone University men’s wrestling team continued their winning streak early in the 2021 season as they were able to make a comeback after falling behind early to the Lions of Emmanuel College, eventually coming out on top 26-19.
After falling behind by an early 10-0 margin after a dual opening major decision and forfeit in favor of the Lions, freshman Brandon Seawright (Birmingham, Ala.) got the Blue and Gold on the board at 141 lbs., picking up the 7-5 decision over Nicholas Volies to bring the score up to 10-3.  However, the Lions were able to pick up the victory in the next bout to extend their lead back out to 13-3. The Saints were then able to string together three straight bout victories to take over the one point lead.  Junior Smaill Saint Pierre (Kissimmee, Fla.) kicked off the streak for Limestone at 157 lbs. where he was able to pick up the closely contested 3-2 decision over Jesse DeJames for the Lions before freshman Christopher Drakeford-Yegge (Fort Mill, S.C.) notched a decision of his own at 165 lbs. to bring the score to 13-9.  A dominant tech-fall win by sophomore Hunter Haven (Kershaw, S.C.) over Myles Williams at 174 lbs. gave the Saints the 14-13 edge heading into the final three matches of the night. …rest of the story at _{^{https://golimestonesaints.com/news/2021/1/21/mens-wrestling-limestone-wrestling-continues-winning-ways-against-emmanuel.aspx?mc_cid=5a9932a916&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

3 } – Bearcats dominate Queens for first SACC win
GREENWOOD – The Lander wrestling team began its tenure as a member of the South Atlantic Conference Carolina with a bang, as it took down Queens 32-13 in the season opener. The Bearcats used three pinfalls in total to help dominate the Royals. Lander began the match with one of those pinfalls, as sophomore Austin Ross pinned his opponent early in the first period. Queens would take a 9-6 lead after the first three matches before sophomore Bryson Ethington would pull out the second pinfall for the Blue and Gold in the second period to put Lander back up 12-9. … rest of story at _{^{https://lander.prestosports.com/sports/wrest/2020-21/releases/20210115wvxfdq?mc_cid=9a695e9aca&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

4 } – No. 20 University of North Carolina – Pembroke Thunders Past Allen, King
BRISTOL, Tenn. – The 20^th-ranked UNC Pembroke wrestling team racked up 16 individual victories, including 13 victories that came with bonus points, to roll past Allen and King on Wednesday afternoon inside King University’s Student Center Complex. The Braves toppled the Yellowjackets, 47-3, before rallying past the host Tornado, 32-9, in the nightcap of the tri-meet.  
Seniors Nick Daggett and Ryan Monk, sophomore Logan Seliga and redshirt junior Jovaun Johnson all registered a pair of wins on the day to lead the Braves (4-0) who remained unbeaten with the day’s results as well. Daggett tallied a pair of bonus-point wins, as did Johnson and Monk.
UNCP recorded pins in each of the first four individual matchups of the day and eventually built a 28-0 lead over Allen before surrendering its only points of the dual in the 165-pound bout. That would be all she wrote for Allen (0-1), however, as the Black & Gold closed with four-straight wins, including pins by Johnson and Monk. … rest of story at _{^{https://uncpbraves.com/news/2021/1/20/no-20-wrestling-thunders-past-allen-king.aspx?mc_cid=36a2e0aa41&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

5 } – SoCon tabs Hopkins wrestler of the week
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – After posting a pair of bonus point wins over the weekend, Campbell’ Caleb Hopkins has been named the Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week. Hopkins helped the Camels sweep Ohio (34-6) and VMI (39-0) on Saturday, posting 16-3 major decision over Ohio’s Carson Brewer, then recording the day’s only pin, topping VMI’s Chase Mielnik (3:46). The 184 pounder from Palmer, Alaska tallied two of the Camels’ eight bonus or forfeit victories on the day. Hopkins is already the second Campbell product to earn SoCon Wrestler of the Week honors this season, joining Benjamin Barton (January 6). … rest of story at _{^{https://gocamels.com/news/2021/1/20/wrestling-socon-tabs-hopkins-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=36a2e0aa41&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
and Wrestling tops App State, GWU
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell remained unbeaten in Southern Conference duals, sweeping Saturday’s matches against Appalachian State and Gardner-Webb at the Pope Convocation Center. Campbell moved to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in SoCon matchups after the day’s action, while Appalachian State fell to 3-2 on the season and 3-1 in conference duals. Gardner-Webb dropped to 0-7 overall, including 0-4 in SoCon duals. The Camels opened the day with a come from behind 21-17 win over App State, then defeated Gardner-Webb 38-6. The Mountaineers also topped Gardner-Webb 28-6. … rest of the story at _{^{https://gocamels.com/news/2021/1/23/wrestling-tops-app-state-gwu.aspx?mc_cid=ff92a43b17&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

6 } – NO. 14 NORTH CAROLINA TOPS DUKE, 29-9, TO BEGIN ACC COMPETITION
DURHAM, N.C. –  No. 14 North Carolina earned its fourth-straight ACC-opening match win against Duke on Friday evening in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Coleman Scott‘s team posted a 29-9 win to open up conference competition. North Carolina found itself down 3-0 after the 125-pound match that featured Wil Guida. The freshman battled tough after finding himself down 6-1 in the first period. Guida found a way to pull within two, 6-4, but was unable to register a takedown in the back half of the third period and fell by two.
 Carolina tied up the match at three when Timothy Decatur went back-and-forth in the 133-pound bout through the first two periods against Parker Decker. Decatur held a one-point lead with one period to go and fought through the third period for the 5-4 decision. … rest of story at _{^{https://goheels.com/news/2021/1/22/wrestling-no-14-north-carolina-tops-duke-29-9-to-begin-acc-competition.aspx?mc_cid=63515b3c44&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

7 } – #9 Newberry Wolves Win Two Duals at Emmanuel College
FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – The Newberry Wolves Wrestling team (ranked No. 9 in the nation by The Open Mat) picked up a pair of wins Friday afternoon, including their first-ever win over Liberty, and a 36-9 conference win over Emmanuel College. The Wolves opened the day taking on Liberty, with Austin Neal getting Newberry on the board at 133 pounds, winning a major decision to give the Wolves a 4-3 lead. They extended that lead at 141 pounds when Isiah Royal (ranked No. 1 in the nation by the National Wrestling Coaches Association) won a first period fall, needing just 2:44 to pick up six team points, extending the lead to 10-3. Devan Moore kept the win streak going at 149 pounds, winning a 22-10 major decision, making it a 14-3 lead for Newberry. Will Evans also picked up a major decision win, winning his match at 157 pounds, 20-7. After a Liberty win at 165 pounds cut the lead to 18-9, Caleb Spears (ranked No. 5 in the nation by The Open Mat) … rest of story at _{^{https://newberrywolves.com/news/2021/1/22/wrestling-wolves-win-two-duals-at-emmanuel-college.aspx?mc_cid=63515b3c44&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

8 } – #4 N.C. State WolfPack Scores 24-12 Home Win Over App State
Pack wins six matches, four by bonus points
RALEIGH, N.C. – The #4 NC State Wrestling team scored a 24-12 win over visiting App State in its first home dual of the season Friday night in Reynolds Coliseum. The Wolfpack (2-0) won four of the first five matches to jump out to a 14-3 lead, and had four bonus point wins on the night overall including a pin at 197 pounds and major decision at heavyweight to close out the dual. … rest of story at _{^{https://gopack.com/news/2021/1/8/wrestling-4-packwrestle-scores-24-12-home-win-over-app-state.aspx?mc_cid=c6c3fe425c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
and Pat Popolizio gives a quick recap of Gardner-Webb before looking ahead to Appalachian State – NCS73 Episode 73 of the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast is ready to roll as the fourth-ranked Wolfpack wrestling squad opened up with a 42-0 win at Gardner-Webb to kick off this wacky 2020-21 season. Pat Popolizio is back on the show to talk about the performance and what to look forward to with the first home dual of the year against Appalachian State. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/pack-mentality/pat-popolizio-gives-a-quick-recap-of-gardner-webb-before-looking-ahead-to-appalachian-state-ncs73/?mc_cid=afb669e366&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

9} – Mount Olive Falls In First Contest Of 2021
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The University of Mount Olive wrestling team fell to the Wolves of Newberry College 37-11 Sunday afternoon in a South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Dual. The contest was the first competition for any UMO Athletics program since March of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the suspension of sports. INSIDE THE RESULTS
The match started at the 125 weight class and saw freshman Lens Mathurin fall via pin in the opening period. Hayden Waddell came back to score three points for the Trojans with a 7-2 decision in the 133 match. 
UMO won the 149 match before surrendering the next four matches as the home Trojans were down 31-6. The final stroke of power for Mount Olive came in the 197 match. Micah Dixon scored the most points for the Trojans with a tech fall of 16-1 over Brandon Dickman. … rest of story at _{^{https://umotrojans.com/news/2021/1/10/wrestling-mount-olive-falls-in-first-contest-of-2021.aspx}}
and Trojans Fall To Limestone In Road Dual
GAFFNEY, S.C. – The University of Mount Olive wrestling team fell to the Saints of Limestone College 40-4 Sunday afternoon in a South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Dual. 
INSIDE THE RESULTS
The match started at the 125 weight class and saw freshman Lens Mathurin fall via major decision 15-4. The Trojans were then unable to stop the momentum of the Saints as UMO dropped the next five matches.
UMO won the 165 match, as Colby Teague recorded his first win of the season over LC’s Christopher Drakeford 13-0. … rest of the story at _{^{https://umotrojans.com/news/2021/1/17/wrestling-trojans-fall-to-limestone-in-road-dual.aspx}}

10 } – Duke Drops Opening ACC Dual at No. 12 Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Duke opened ACC dual action Saturday and put up a hard fight against the No. 12 team in the country but ultimately fell 31-12 to Pittsburgh. The Blue Devils received victories from redshirt freshmen Patrick Rowland and Brandon LaRue as well asredshirt junior Josh Finesilver, including the fourth career pin for LaRue. After dropping the first two matches of the day, Duke found itself in a 9-0 hole. Rowland sparked a rally though when he defeated Jake Cherry by a 4-3 decision at 141 pounds. Rowland was holding on down the stretch in this exciting match to garner his first career dual win. During the next match, No. 19 ranked Finesilver found himself down early to Luke Kemerer but was able to overpower him in the final two periods of the 149 matchup to register … rest of story at _{^{https://goduke.com/news/2021/1/16/wrestling-duke-drops-opening-acc-dual-at-no-12-pittsburgh.aspx}}

11 } – Appalachian State Splits With Gardner-Webb, Campbell
BUIES CREEK — App State split its two Southern Conference duals Saturday, winning 28-6 against Gardner-Webb after host Campbell stormed back to claim a 21-17 victory in a matchup of SoCon powers. Codi Russell (125 pounds), Sean Carter (133), Anthony Brito (141), Jonathan Millner (149) and Will Formato (165) had 2-0 days. The 2020-21 wrestling season is presented by Hungry Howies and Penn Station. The Mountaineers (3-2, 3-1) return to action next Sunday by hosting a tri-meet against Chattanooga and Presbyterian.
Campbell 21, App State 17
App State won the first four matches and held a 17-3 lead before Campbell won the last four matches, including two by fall. … rest of story at _{^{https://appstatesports.com/news/2021/1/23/wrestling-splits-with-gardner-webb-campbell.aspx?mc_cid=ff92a43b17&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

12 } – #4 N.C. State WolfPack Opens ACC Action with 23-9 Win at Virginia
Pack wins 7 of 10 matches, runs in its nation-leading win streak to 20 duals
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. – The #4 NC State Wrestling team opened its ACC slate with a 23-9 win at Virginia Friday night. The Wolfpack (3-0) won seven of the 10 matches, and runs its nation’s longest winning streak to 20 straight duals dating back to 2019. The dual started at 125 pounds, and the Pack came away with bonus points as #6 Jakob Camacho scored a 16-7 major decision.
After a UVA decision at 133 pounds, the Pack won three straight to take a 14-3 lead at the intermission.
#10 Tariq Wilson scored a reversal with 10 seconds left to win 8-6 at 141 pounds.
Fr. Ed Scott had three takedowns and a pair of near falls to claim a 13-1 major decision at 149pounds.
#2 Hayden Hidlay added a third period takedown for a 6-3 ranked win over #16 Justin McCoy.
… rest of story at _{^{https://gopack.com/news/2021/1/15/wrestling-4-packwrestle-opens-acc-action-with-23-9-win-at-virginia.aspx?mc_cid=9a695e9aca&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
and #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast: Ep. 74 – Fr. Ed Scott
RALEIGH, N.C. – Episode No. 74 of the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast records from Brian Reinhardt‘s office outside of his office, which would be near Pat Popolizio‘s office. What’s next up for the Pack after a win over Virginia and now a Friday Night showdown with #12 Pitt? We also meet freshman Ed Scott, who makes his first appearance on the podcast. … rest of the story at _{^{https://gopack.com/news/2021/1/20/-packmentality-pop-ins-podcast-ep-74-fr-ed-scott.aspx?mc_cid=36a2e0aa41&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

January 27, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized