No. 6 Braves Rattle Shippensburg, Mercyhurst At Super Region I Duals
PEMBROKE – Fueled by an unbeaten day from the first four wrestlers in its starting lineup, the sixth-ranked UNCP wrestling team proved to be an rather ungracious host as the Braves throttled Shippensburg, 40-6, and then dispelled of Mercyhurst, 25-8, on the opening day of the Super Region I Duals in the English E. Jones Center.
The triumph gave UNCP (10-2) double-digit victories for the second-straight season – the first time the program has accomplished that feat since the 2002-03 (15-2) and 2003-04 (12-6) campaigns. The results also marked the fifth- and sixth-straight victories for the Black and Gold at the prestigious east coast event dating back to a perfect 4-0 mark at last year's Super Region I Duals in Newberry, S.C.
UNCP's Friday debut provided its largest margin of victory in its nine-game series with Mercyhurst (8-6), while the win over Shippensburg (2-8) marked the Braves' first victory in the seven-game series with the Raiders.
All-Americans Russell Weakley (125 pounds) and Mike Williams (165 pounds) each successfully defended their No. 1 rankings in the English E. Jones Center as Weakley opened his weekend with a first-period pin (1:36) of Shippensburg's Christopher Kochinsky, before posting a 21-5 win by technical fall over Mercyhurst's Ryan Bohince. Williams turned in a 10-2 major decision over Shippensburg's Nathan Reese, and then needed just 31 seconds to pin Mercyhurst's Clint Schaefer in the nightcap.
Timdarius Thurston posted a perfect 2-0 record on the day as well at 133 pounds, winning by forfeit in the match with the Lakers, before grabbing a key 11-5 decision over Mercyhurst's Michael Baxter. Shane Nolan was equally as impressive in the 197-pound slot, defeating Shippensburg's Keith Dahlheimer via a 10-4 decision, and then taking down Mercyhurst's Michael Pollard by a 7-5 decision in the nightcap.
Tyquan Easton and Joe Figueroa gave the Braves an unblemished day at 141 pounds as well, while Shiheem Bryant and John Sturrock did the same in the 184 pound matchups on the night.
#6 UNCP 40, Shippensburg 6
125: No. 1 Russell Weakley (UNCP) pinned Christopher Kochinsky (SU) F 1:36
133: Timdarius Thurston (UNCP) forfeit No Entry (SU) FOR
141: Joe Figueroa (UNCP) dec. Simon Rice (SU) D 6-4
149: Brendon Parker-Risk (UNCP) pinned Kenneth Stank (SU) F 2:08
157: James Reilley (SU) dec. Chris Foy (UNCP) D 8-3
165: No. 1 Mike Williams (UNCP) maj. dec. Nathan Reese (SU) M 10-2
174: Zachary Hogentogler (SU) dec. Jordan Ford (UNCP) D 7-6
184: John Sturrock (UNCP) pinned Tyler Zittle (SU) F 5:46
197: Shane Nolan (UNCP) dec. Keith Dahlheimer (SU) D 10-4
285: Seth Stewart (UNCP) def. Jacob Nale (SU) F 4:47
Starting Weight: 125
Records: UNCP 9-2; Shippensburg 1-7
#6 UNCP 25, Mercyhurst 8
125: No. 1 Russell Weakley (UNCP) tech. fall Ryan Bohince (MC) TF 21-5; 4:18
133: Timdarius Thurston (UNCP) dec. Michael Baxter (MC) D 11-5
141: Tyquan Easton (UNCP) dec. Nick Hannan (MC) D 8-5
149: Shane Foster (MC) dec. Brendon Parker-Risk (UNCP) D 3-2
157: Robert Blotzer (MC) dec. Chris Foy (UNCP) D 9-4
165: No. 1 Mike Williams (UNCP) pinned Clint Schaefer (MC) F 0:31
174: Dennis Fix (UNCP) dec. Eric Lundgren (MC) D 3-1
184: Shiheem Bryant (UNCP) dec. Londele Cox (MC) D 3-1
197: Shane Nolan (UNCP) dec. Michael Pollard (MC) D 3-1
285: Nathan Sharp (MC) dec. James De La Riva (UNCP) D 2-1
Starting Weight: 125
Notes: Mercyhurst, UNCP Both Deducted One Team Point
Records: UNCP 10-2; Mercyhurst 8-6
