Results
MOUNT OLIVE (Feb. 4) – In a highly anticipated East Division Conference Carolinas dual, the Trojans battled in a 28-12 loss to No. 6 nationally-ranked UNC Pembroke on Sunday evening in Kornegay Arena on Senior Night.
With the loss, the University of Mount Olive men's wrestling team suffers its first loss since Nov. 29 and drops to 11-2 overall behind a 6-2 mark in conference duals. The Braves have won all four meetings in the series and featured four nationally-ranked wrestlers on their roster in the latest NWCA poll. Meanwhile, UNC Pembroke extends its winning streak to five straight and improves to 12-5 this season with a 7-1 record in league duals.
The Braves claimed an early 9-0 edge after collecting a 12-10 decision at 125 before securing a victory in the 133-weight class due to injury late in the third period. Senior
Hayden Waddell (133) answered back with a first-period pin over Avery Buonocore to close the gap to 9-6. In the following match, sophomore
Dallas Wilson battled to a 7-3 decision versus No. 5 ranked Jake Piccirilli to tie the match, 9-9.
UNC Pembroke responded with five-straight victories behind three decisions and two tech falls to stretch the lead to 28-9. Nationally-ranked No. 6 Keegan Roberson and No. 1 Scott Joll each produced victories to assist UNCP to victory. In the final match, redshirt sophomore
Slade Watkins delivered a 7-5 decision over Nico Minacapelli, as the Trojans fell by a 28-12 margin.
UMO closes the regular season on Thursday, Feb. 8, when it travels to face Newberry in a Conference Carolinas dual at 7 p.m.
Match Results
125: Joseph Bruscino (UNCP) over
Lens Mathurin (Mount Olive) (Dec 12-10)
133: Logan Robinson (UNCP) over
Timothy Decatur (Mount Olive) (Inj. 6:43)
141:
Hayden Waddell (Mount Olive) over Avery Buonocore (UNCP) (Fall 1:35)
149:
Dallas Wilson (Mount Olive) over No. 5 Jake Piccirilli (UNCP) (Dec 7-3)
157: No. 6 Keegan Roberson (UNCP) over
Jake Nicolosi (Mount Olive) (Dec 9-6)
165: Caleb Grau (UNCP) over
Aaron Bancroft (Mount Olive) (Dec 5-2)
174: No. 1 Scott Joll (UNCP) over
Seth Thomas (Mount Olive) (TF 17-1)
184: Christopher Dickey (UNCP) over
Calan Staub (Mount Olive) (Dec 4-2)
197: Garrett Steele (UNCP) over
Noah Williams (Mount Olive) (TF 20-5)
285:
Slade Watkins (Mount Olive) over Nico Minacapelli (UNCP) (Dec 7-5)
