PEMBROKE – The 11th-ranked UNC Pembroke wrestling team produced 17 takedowns and a pair of bonus-point victories on the way to a 26-9 victory over Limestone in the regular season finale for both teams on Wednesday evening in the English E. Jones Center.
The triumph finished off an unblemished home schedule for the Braves (13-4) who will now turn their attention to hosting next weekend's NCAA Midwest Super Regional. Limestone (6-10) finished off its regular season campaign with three-straight losses and fell to 4-7 all-time in the series with the Braves.
The Black & Gold got early victories by both Josh Brown at 125 pounds and Daniel Ownbey at 141 pounds, but the Saints knotted the team score up at six apiece following Nick Leitten's 6-4 decision over Hayden Fry in the 149-pound matchup. Reggie Allen's 10-5 win over Richie Manning at 157 pounds would give the hosts the lead for good, however.
Juan Stimpson recorded a key 3-point near fall to grab a 6-0 win over Jimmy Sandlin at 165 pounds, and Terrence Zaleski registered seven takedowns en route to a 22-6 technical fall over Matthew Ostermiller in the 174-pound matchup. Mikey Thomas's second-period (4:28) pin of David Kieta at 184 pounds would give the Braves a commanding 23-6 lead on the team scoreboard.
Justin Tribble squeaked by Michael Jones, 3-2, at 197 pounds to help the visitors cut into their deficit, but Chris Giddens finished the night off for the Braves with a 3-1 decision over Cody VandeLinde.
UNCP will begin its run into the postseason, Feb. 27-28, when it welcomes 13 other teams to the English E. Jones Center for the 2015 NCAA Midwest Super Regional.
No. 11 UNC Pembroke 26, Limestone 9
125: Josh Brown (UNCP) dec. Kyle Lowe (LC) D 5-4
133: Ross Benzel (LC) dec. Cole Murray (UNCP) D 10-7
141: No. 2 Daniel Ownbey (UNCP) dec. Taylor Wickett (LC) D 3-2
149: Nick Leitten (LC) dec. Hayden Fry (UNCP) D 6-4
157: Reggie Allen (UNCP) dec. Richie Manning (LC) D 10-5
165: Juan Stimpson (UNCP) dec. Jimmy Sandlin (LC) D 6-0
174: No. 4 Terrence Zaleski (UNCP) tech. fall Matthew Ostermiller (LC) TF 22-6; 6:03
184: Mikey Thomas (UNCP) pinned David Kieta (LC) F 4:28
197: Justin Tribble (LC) dec. Michael Jones (UNCP) D 3-2
285: No. 6 Chris Giddens (UNCP) dec. Cody VandeLinde (LC) D 3-1
Starting Weight: 125
Records: Limestone 6-10; UNC Pembroke 13-4
