No. 11 UNCP Topples Trojans, Retains Belt
PEMBROKE – Keyed by top-ranked Bryant Blanton's pin in the 184-pound match-up, second-ranked Newberry rallied back from an early six-point deficit to snap UNCP's winning streak at five matches with a 25-12 victory over the Braves Tuesday evening at the English E. Jones Center.
Newberry (14-4), whose only Division II loss of the season came less than two weeks ago against No. 1 Nebraska-Omaha, won for the fifth-straight time in its series with the Black and Gold. The loss was the first for UNCP since a 26-14 setback to The Citadel on January 13. The contest officially put a lid on UNCP's home slate for the 2009-10 campaign as well.
UNCP used Brandon Bradley's 8-2 decision over Deral Brown in the 149-pound bout and a 4-1 decision by Mike Williams in the 157-pound tilt to take an early 6-0 lead before Newberry got on the board with Latra Collick's tight 4-1 win over Rashaad Saunders. Fifth-ranked J.J. Davis pushed the team lead back out to six with a 6-4 sudden victory over Curtis Chenoweth at 174 pounds, but the visitors won each of the next three matches – including Blanton's key win – to take a 15-9 advantage into the final three matches of the night.
Russell Weakley upset No. 7 Matt Oliver by a 6-1 count to pull the Braves to within three, 15-12, but fourth-ranked Sheridan Moran eased by Timdarius Thurston in the 133-pound bout with an 11-1 major decision and Ernie Young finished off the night with a first period pin of 141-pounder Wes Whitman who was making his collegiate debut.
UNCP will be in action again on Friday when the Braves make the short trek south to battle Anderson (5-11) in the annual “Battle For The Belt” at the Abney Athletic Center. Wrestling action is set to get underway at 7 p.m.
#2 Newberry 25, UNCP 12
125: Russell
Weakley (UNCP) dec. #7 Matt Oliver (NC) D 6-1
133: #4 Sheridan Moran (NC) maj. dec. Timdarius
Thurston (UNCP) M 11-1
141: Ernie Young (NC) pinned Wes Whitman
(UNCP) F 1:03
149: Brandon
Bradley (UNCP) dec. Deral Brown (NC) D 8-2
157: Mike Williams
(UNCP) dec. Mike Rogers (NC) D 4-1
165: Latra Collick (NC) dec. Rashaad
Saunders (UNCP) D 4-1
174: #5 J.J. Davis
(UNCP) dec. Curtis Chenoweth (NC) D 6-4 SV
184: #1 Bryant Blanton (NC) pinned John
Sturrock (UNCP) F 4:12
197: #3 Keeno Griffin (NC) dec. Shane
Nolan (UNCP) D 8-2
285: Jake Elkins (NC) dec. Erik Stancil
(UNCP) D 6-2
Starting Weight: 149
Records: Newberry 14-4; UNCP 13-7
Notes: Newberry extends win streak to seven
matches; UNCP has win streak snapped at five matches
Exhibition (165): Davis Bagwell (NC) dec. Derving Rios (UNCP) D 7-3
