Braves Tally 1-2 Record At Newberry Duals

NEWBERRY, S.C. – Shane Nolan, Brendon Parker-Risk and Mike Williams each exited the day unscathed on the mat, but UNCP booked a 1-2 day on the mat as a team on Saturday afternoon at the Newberry Duals in Newberry's Eleazer Arena.

The Braves (2-2) fell to 17th-ranked Findlay by a 26-13 score in its Newberry Duals opener, before registering a 25-15 comeback victory over Lake Erie. The Black & Gold attempted another comeback in its final match of the day against Chadron State, but fell to the Eagles by a score of 23-18.

Findlay won each of the first four matches of the day and had built an 18-0 advantage by the time Parker-Risk registered a forfeit victory at 157 pounds to get the Braves on the board. Williams used a 4-2 sudden victory over Mason True in the following bout to cut the deficit back to 18-9, but the Oilers booked decision victories in two of the last three matches to seal the team win.

Lake Erie used a forfeit win at 125 pounds, as well as an early pin by Thomas McVicker at 141 pounds, to build an early 12-6 advantage, but the Braves countered with three-straight individual victories, including Williams's 13-3 major decision at 165 pounds, to take a lead they would not relinquish. The Storm ended their drought with a 7-1 decision at 174 pounds to climb to within a single team point, 16-15, but the Black & Gold closed out the match with three-straight individual wins, including a 7-2 win by James De La Riva in the heavyweight bout.

Chadron State used a forfeit victory at 125 pounds, as well as a pin at 149 pounds, to stake claim to a quick 20-0 lead. Parker-Risk broke up the monotony with a second-period pin of Dustin Stodola at 157 pounds, and Williams and Jake Ferguson both followed with wins of their own to whittle deficit back to 20-12, but the Eagles picked up a key win at 184 pounds by Jordan Debus to, inevitably, put the match away.  Needing bonus-point victories to pose any sort of a comeback effort, Nolan posted a 3-1 decision at 197 pounds and De La Riva closed out the day with a 5-1 decision of his own in the heavyweight match.

UNCP will be back in action again on Sunday when it makes the long trek to Indianapolis, Ind., to take part in the prestigious Midwest Classic. Wrestling action will take place on both Sunday and Monday inside the University of Indianapolis's Nicoson Hall.

No. 17 Findlay 26, UNCP 13
125: No. 8 Ben Sergent (UF) forfeit No Entry (UNCP)
133: Nickholaas Weisjahn (UF) pinned Ryan Blackwell (UNCP) F 1:00
141: Chris Andrews (UF) dec. Adonis Wright (UNCP) SV 2-0
149: Jeremy Espinoza (UF) dec. Kristoff Thomas (UNCP) D 6-5
157: Brendon Parker-Risk (UNCP) forfeit No Entry (UF) For
165: No. 3 Mike Williams (UNCP) dec. Mason True (UF) SV 4-2
174: No. 1 Michael Lybarger (UF) maj. dec. Jake Ferguson (UNCP) M 12-1
184: Adam Walters (UF) dec. Shiheem Bryant (UNCP) D 6-4
197: No. 8 Shane Nolan (UNCP) maj. dec. Ashton Brown (UF) M 10-2
285: Matthew Clum (UF) dec. James De La Riva (UNCP) D 8-6
Starting Weight: 125
Records: UNCP 1-1; Findlay 1-1
Notes: Findlay coach misconduct; 2 team points deducted

UNCP 25, Lake Erie 15
125: Austin Gillihan (LEC) forfeit No Entry (UNCP) For
133: Adonis Wright (UNCP) pinned Ian Ross (LEC) F 1:45
141: Thomas McVicker (LEC) pinned Ryan Blackwell (UNCP) F 0:3
149: Kristoff Thomas (UNCP) dec. Dylan Zivcic (LEC) D 7-5
157: Brendon Parker-Risk (UNCP) dec. Tyler Tesney (LEC) D 10-3
165: No. 3 Mike Williams (UNCP) maj. dec. Matt Vandermeer (LEC) M 13-3
174: Zev Green (LEC) dec. Jake Ferguson (UNCP) D 7-1
184: Shiheem Bryant (UNCP) dec. Jon Schaefer (LEC) D 4-2
197: No. 8 Shane Nolan (UNCP) dec. Mike Samijlenko (LEC) D 10-4
285: James De La Riva (UNCP) dec.  Robert Zappitelli II (LEC) D 7-2
Starting Weight: 125
Records: UNCP 2-1; Lake Erie 2-4

Chadron State 23, UNCP 18
125: Spencer Hunt (CSU) forfeit No Entry (UNCP) For
133: Dustin Stodola (CSU) maj. dec. Adonis Wright (UNCP) M 11-0
141: Leandro Arias (CSU) maj. dec. Ryan Blackwell (UNCP) M 12-4
149: C.J. Clark (CSU) pinned Kristoff Thomas (UNCP) F 4:04
157: Brendon Parker-Risk (UNCP) pinned Dustin Stodola (CSU) F 4:04
165: No. 3 Mike Williams (UNCP) dec. Mikah Kadera (CSU) D 3-1
174: Jake Ferguson (UNCP) dec. Devan Fors (CSU) D 3-2
184: Jordan Debus (CSU) dec. Shiheem Bryant (UNCP) D 9-5
197: No. 8 Shane Nolan (UNCP) dec. Chris Leak (CSU) D 3-1
285: James De La Riva (UNCP) dec. R.J. Boylan (CSU) D 5-1
Starting Weight: 125
Records: UNCP 2-2; Chadron State 3-1