LAURINBURG, N.C.— The Montreat men's wrestling team extended its win streak to three duals as the Cavaliers claimed a tight 25-19 triumph over the St. Andrews University Knights in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup on the road Friday evening. With the come-from-behind victory, the Cavs improved to 3-7 overall and 3-4 in AAC duals on the year.
Thanks to a 14-2 major decision by
Zeke Grabowski and a 14-10 decision from
Coy Reid, Montreat jumped ahead 7-0 through a pair of bouts. Though SAU leveled the score with similar outcomes in the ensuing two matches,
Branson Bennett responded to hand the Cavaliers a 10-7 lead with an 11-5 win at 157.
Caleb Johnson-White pinned his opponent in just 1:40 at 165 to put the visitors up 16-7; however, the Knights answered with a fall and a forfeit to lead 19-16 with two bouts left. Needing a pair of results to take the battle, the Cavs prevailed. At 197,
Seth Williamson collected a key 12-8 decision win to knot the overall score at 19, and
Grant Trotter, the reigning AAC Wrestler of the Week, sealed the team triumph thanks to his pin at 285.
Men's wrestling now travels to Cleveland, Ga. to wrestle a handful of teams at the AAC Duals next Saturday, Jan. 27. Bouts are expected to begin at 10 a.m.
Montreat College 25, St. Andrews University 19
125:
Zeke Grabowski (Montreat) over Jonah McBurney (St. Andrews) (MD 14-2)
133:
Coy Reid (Montreat) over Gerard Ricciuto (St. Andrews) (Dec 14-10)
141: James Roberts (St. Andrews) over
Chris McHenry (Montreat) (MD 13-1)
149: David Coptsias (St. Andrews) over
Braden Wharton (Montreat) (Dec 8-6)
157:
Branson Bennett (Montreat) over Terry Adams (St. Andrews) (Dec 11-5)
165:
Caleb Johnson-White (Montreat) over Teracqus Young (St. Andrews) (Fall 1:40)
174: Franco Cuccurelo (St. Andrews) over
Ashton Medeiros (Montreat) (Fall 1:25)
184: Akazee Kum Akab a sei (St. Andrews) over Unknown (For.)
197:
Seth Williamson (Montreat) over Dakota Johnson (St. Andrews) (Dec 12-8)
285:
Grant Trotter (Montreat) over Daunte Bond (St. Andrews) (Fall 6:10)
