No. 17 Braves Retain Belt, Throttle Anderson
ANDERSON, S.C. – Visiting and 17th-ranked UNCP dug itself an early hole by forfeiting each of the first two bouts of the night, but the Braves rebounded seven wins in the eight remaining matchups to post a 37-15 win at Anderson on Friday evening.
The triumph helped the Braves (6-4) post its sixth-straight victory in the annual "Battle For The Belt" series with the Trojans (4-19). The Black & Gold has now captured victories in four of its last five dual meets as well.
Cory Monteforte (125 pounds) and Keenan Simmons (133) both registered wins by forfeit to give Anderson an early 12-0 lead on the team scoreboard, but UNCP used a pin by 141-pounder Daniel Ownbey in the first contested match of the night to slice that deficit in half. Dan Telhada booked a 4-2 win over Kristoff Thomas in the 149-pound matchup to extend Anderson's lead back out to nine points, 15-6, but Curt Jones followed with a tight 8-7 decision at 157 pounds moments before all-American Mike Williams knotted the team score up with his first-period pin (2:55) of Dalton Harper.
Ridge White gave the Braves their first lead of the night with a 15-3 major decision over Bryan Glace at 174 pounds and that would, inevitably, be all the points the visitors would need the remainder of the night. The Trojans forfeited both the 184- and 285-pound bouts, while Shane Nolan turned in a third-period pin (5:55) of Jordan Denmark at 197 pounds.
The Braves will be back in action again on Saturday when a portion of the team makes the short trip to Newberry, S.C., to take part in the Newberry Open. Wrestling action is set to get underway at 9 a.m. inside Eleazer Arena.
#17 UNCP 37, Anderson 15
125: Cory Monteforte (AU) forfeit No Entry (UNCP) For
133: Keenan Simmons (AU) forfeit No Entry (UNCP) For
141: Daniel Ownbey (UNCP) pinned Ian Harper (AU) F 4:51
149: Dan Telhada (AU) dec. Kristoff Thomas (UNCP) D 4-2
157: Curt Jones (UNCP) dec. Nick Giuliette (AU) D 8-7
165: No. 3 Mike Williams (UNCP) pinned Dalton Harper (AU) F 2:55
174: Ridge White (UNCP) maj. dec. Bryan Glace (AU) M 15-3
184: Shiheem Bryant (UNCP) forfeit No Entry (AU) For
197: No. 8 Shane Nolan (UNCP) pinned Jordan Denmark (AU) F 5:55
285: James De La Riva (UNCP) forfeit No Entry (UNCP) For
Starting Weight: 125
Records: UNC Pembroke 6-4; Anderson 4-19
