PEMBROKE – All-American Blaze Shade registered the 62^nd bonus-point victory of his career with a first-period pin at 174 pounds and the 23^rd-ranked UNC Pembroke wrestling team benefitted from a trio of forfeits on the way to a 36-6 rout of Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) rival King in the regular season finale for both teams on Monday evening.
 
It was the third-straight dual meet victory for the Braves (7-6, 4-2 ECAC) who put the wraps on their fifth-straight winning season with the outcome as well. The Tornado (5-7, 2-4) closed out their regular season with four consecutive losses, three of which came to league foes.
 
Forfeits by King at 125 and 141 pounds bookended a hard-fought 4-2 decision by David Wilson at 133 pounds and gave the hosts a quick 15-0 lead on the team scoreboard. The Black & Gold would get consecutive decisions from Jake Smith (149 pounds) and Eric Milks (157) to pad its lead out to 21-0, but Cory Collins spoiled the shutout with a 4-3 decision at 165 pounds that got the Tornado on the board.
 
Shade needed just 74 seconds to slam the door on an illustrious home career with the Braves at 174 pounds, and fellow senior Mikey Thomas, likewise, went out a winner with a 9-3 decision at 184 pounds.
 
The Braves will get a 10-day hiatus from competition before heading to Indianapolis, Feb. 24-25, for the UIndy-hosted NCAA Midwest Super Regional. That event serves as a qualifier for the NCAA Division II National Championships which will be held in early March.


 

#23 UNC PEMBROKE 36, KING 6
Weight	Result	Team Score
125	Jayquon McEntyre (UNCP) forfeit No Entry (KU) FOR	UNCP 6, KU 0
133	David Wilson (UNCP) dec. Jacob Wynn (KU) D 4-2	UNCP 9, KU 0
141	Chad Hoff (UNCP) forfeit No Entry (KU) FOR	UNCP 15, KU 0
149	Jake Smith (UNCP) dec. Ethyn Ewing (KU) D 7-2	UNCP 18, KU 0
157	Eric Milks (UNCP) dec. Landon Reed (KU) D 11-4	UNCP 21, KU 0
165	Cory Collins (KU) dec. Brandon Sloop (UNCP) D 4-3	UNCP 21, KU 3
174	No. 2 Blaze Shade (UNCP) pinned Joey Mammolenti (KU) F 1:14	UNCP 27, KU 3
184	Mikey Thomas (UNCP) dec. Elijah Seay (KU) D 9-3	UNCP 30, KU 3
197	Eldon Valery, Jr. (KU) dec. Landon Mumford (UNCP) D 5-2	UNCP 30, KU 6
285	Bryce Walker (UNCP) forfeit No Entry (KU) FOR	UNCP 36, KU 6
Starting Weight	125
Records	King 5-7, 2-4 ECAC; UNC Pembroke 7-6, 4-2 ECAC