No. 25 Wrestling Extends Win Streak To Seven, Downs Ferrum

FERRUM, Va. – Ferrum won the first three matches to stake claim to an early 12-0 lead, but the 25th-ranked UNC Pembroke wrestling team grabbed six of night's final seven matches, including two via pin, to register a 24-14 comeback victory over the Panthers in Swartz Gym.

The triumph helped extend UNCP's (8-4) winning skein in dual meets out to seven – the second-longest victory string in school history. It was just the second loss in the last five outings for the Panthers (4-3), both of which have come to the Braves over the last two weeks.

Ferrum posted decisions at both 125 and 133 pounds to take a quick 6-0 lead, and then extended its lead out to a dozen points on the team scoreboard on the shoulders of Logan Meister's pin at 141 pounds. Aided by decision victories by both Eric Milks (149 pounds) and Justin Pencook (157), the Black & Gold cut into its deficit and pulled to within 12-6, but Josh Alston helped the hosts push the lead back out to nine moments later with a tight 10-8 victory over Reggie Allen.

The Braves used a first-period pin by Blaze Shade at 174 pounds, a 12-9 decision by Brach Walker at 184 pounds and a team point deduction on a control of mat violation by Ferrum to lug a 15-14 advantage into the final two matches of the evening. Stuart Nadeau registered a first-period pin (2:43) of John Altice at 197 pounds, and Chris Giddens finished off the night with a 6-2 win over Ferrum's Tate Dulany.

The Braves will be back in action again on February 5 when they return home to battle region rival St. Andrews (5-4) in a 7:30 p.m. dual meet in the English E. Jones Center. Admission to all 2013-14 UNCP home wrestling matches is free.

No. 25 UNC Pembroke 24, Ferrum 14
125: Robert Cunningham (FC) dec. Dontae Brown (UNCP) D 3-0
133: Justin Zimmerman (FC) dec. Cole Murray (UNCP) D 11-9
141: Logan Meister (FC) pinned Tyler Ross (UNCP) F 2:38
149: Eric Milks (UNCP) dec. Paul Biggs (FC) D 8-2
157: Justin Pencook (UNCP) dec. Damon Minor (FC) D 3-2
165: Josh Alston (FC) dec. Reggie Allen (UNCP) D 10-8
174: Blaze Shade (UNCP) pinned Thomas Smith (FC) F 1:40
184: Brach Walker (UNCP) dec. Corbin Ramos (FC) D 12-9
197: Stuart Nadeau (UNCP) pinned John Altice (FC) F 2:43
285: Chris Giddens (UNCP) dec. Tate Dulany (FC) D 6-2
Starting Weight: 125
Notes: Ferrum deducted team point for control of mat
Records: UNC Pembroke 8-4; Ferrum 4-3