MOUNT OLIVE (Jan. 15) – In a highly competitive Conference Carolinas dual, redshirt junior Slade Watkins won via decision in the heavyweight bout to secure a 21-20 victory over Belmont Abbey on Wednesday night at Kornegay Arena.

With the win, the No. 25 ranked University of Mount Olive men's wrestling program improved to 8-2 overall while remaining undefeated in league duals with a 5-0 record. The Trojans have won the last three meetings in the series and hold a 3-2 record against the Crusaders. Meanwhile, Belmont Abbey dropped to 5-5 this season with a 5-1 mark in conference action.

At 125, redshirt junior Christian Decatur produced a dominant 17-4 major decision over Dylan Drinkard before the Crusaders countered with a 17-3 major decision in the 133-weight class. Freshman Benjamin Hernandez answered with a 10-2 major decision over Luke Kunath at 141 to take an 8-4 lead, but Belmont Abbey responded with an 18-2 tech fall in the 149-weight class to take a narrow 9-8 advantage. No. 3 ranked senior Jake Nicolosi (157) posted a 19-4 tech fall to regain the lead before No. 11 ranked freshman Brent Nicolosi recorded a 21-5 tech fall to hold an 18-9 edge. The Crusaders registered three straight wins with a tech fall, a decision, and a major decision to reclaim the advantage. Still, Belmont Abbey did suffer a point deduction following an unsportsmanlike conduct violation called after the 174-match 20-18. In the final bout, Watkins battled to a 1-0 decision versus Mason Kump to earn the team win by a 21-20 margin.

Mount Olive will be idle for over a week before traveling to UNC Pembroke for a Conference Carolinas dual at 7 p.m.

Match Results
125: Christian Decatur (Mount Olive) over Dylan Drinkard (Belmont Abbey) (MD 17-4)
133: Elijah Boyd (Belmont Abbey) over Jeffrey Richards (Mount Olive) (MD 17-3)
141: Benjamin Hernandez (Mount Olive) over Luke Kunath (Belmont Abbey) (MD 10-2)
149: John Carayiannis (Belmont Abbey) over Dylan Pepin (Mount Olive) (TF 18-2)
157: No. 3 Jake Nicolosi (Mount Olive) over Alex Ropski (Belmont Abbey) (TF 19-4)
165: No. 11 Brent Nicolosi (Mount Olive) over Christian Arrington (Belmont Abbey) (TF 21-5)
174: Maxwell Kiel (Belmont Abbey) over Colby Teague (Mount Olive) (TF 25-8)
184: Kyler Pickard (Belmont Abbey) over Calan Staub (Mount Olive) (Dec 7-4)
197: Caleb Moore (Belmont Abbey) over Raife Smart (Mount Olive) (MD 8-0)
285: Slade Watkins (Mount Olive) over Mason Kump (Belmont Abbey) (Dec 1-0)
*(BAC unsportsmanlike -1.0)
Exhibition (149): Stone Busler (Belmont Abbey) over Christian Orozco (Mount Olive) (Dec 16-12)