No. 17 Wrestling Makes History With Dominant Win At Limestone

GAFFNEY, S.C. – Limestone stayed even with the 17th-ranked UNC Pembroke wrestling team for the first 30 minutes of the night, but the Braves grabbed wins in five of the final six bouts to record their school record 10th-straight dual meet victory with a dominant 22-9 win over the Saints on Sunday in the Timken Center.

UNCP (11-4), who has not tasted defeat since a setback to Lake Erie in early December, improved to 6-4 all-time against the Saints with its second-straight win in the series. Limestone (7-9) capped the dual meet portion of its current campaign with its third-straight loss.

Dontae Brown used a clutch reversal with less than a minute left in his 125-pound match to dispel of Alex Battaglia, but the Saints answered minutes later when Henry Majano finished off an 11-5 decision over Dylan Bernier. Fourth-ranked Daniel Ownbey gave UNCP the lead again with a 5-2 win over Taylor Wickett at 141 pounds, but the Saints evened things up again on Mel Lavergne's 8-1 decision over Eric Milks in the 149-pound matchup.

The momentum would completely swing in the direction of the Braves after the first four matches, however. Justin Pencook sparked a string of four-straight individual victories with a 17-8 major decision over Richie Manning at 157 pounds, and Reggie Allen (165 pounds), Blaze Shade (174) and Brach Walker (184) each followed with wins of their own – all by decision.

Despite Stuart Nadeau's valiant attempt to send his match into overtime, the Saints stopped the bleeding on Justin Tribble's sudden victory at 197 pounds. The Braves would have the last victory of the night, however, as eighth-ranked Chris Giddens turned away Devin Pommerenke with a 5-2 decision in the heavyweight bout.

The Braves will close out the dual meet portion of their 2013-14 schedule on Tuesday evening when they suit up to battle No. 3 Newberry (17-1) in a 7 p.m. Senior Night tilt inside the English E. Jones Center. Admission is free. The match will be preceded by a ceremony to honor UNCP's Class of 2014, Brown and Pencook.

#17 UNC Pembroke 22, Limestone 9
125: Dontae Brown (UNCP) dec. Alex Battaglia (LC) D 6-2
133: Henry Majano (LC) dec. Dylan Bernier (UNCP) D 11-5
141: No. 4 Daniel Ownbey (UNCP) dec. Taylor Wickett (LC) D 5-2
149: Mel LaVergne (LC) dec. Eric Milks (UNCP) D 8-1
157: Justin Pencook (UNCP) maj. dec. Richie Manning (LC) M 17-8
165: Reggie Allen (UNCP) dec. Ryan Buchanan (LC) D 4-0
174: Blaze Shade (UNCP) dec. Tanner Saraceno (LC) D 5-2
184: Brach Walker (UNCP) dec. David Kieta (LC) D 11-4
197: Justin Tribble (LC) dec. Stuart Nadeau (UNCP) SV 8-6
285: No. 8 Chris Giddens (UNCP) dec. Devin Pommerenke (LC) D 5-2
Starting Weight: 125
Records: UNC Pembroke 11-4; Limestone 7-9