Wrestling continues impressive streak with 3-2 finish at Rocky Top Duals
GATLINBURG, Tenn. - Facing off against strong competition, Midway wrestling was able to come out with a 3-2 record at the Rocky Top Duals on Saturday.
The Eagles opened the day against a top-10 nationally ranked opponent and ended it against two teams that, like them, received votes in the most recent NAIA poll.
REINHARDT (GA.) 38, MIDWAY 12
Midway got pinfall wins by Michael Colligan at 174 pounds and Byron Pierce at heavyweight, but struggled to keep up with the seventh-ranked Eagles, who won four matches by pin and one by tech fall.
MIDWAY 30, MONTREAT (N.C.) 20
The Cavaliers kept things interesting until the end, but another pinfall victory at heavyweight sealed the win for the Eagles. This one came by Aaron Garcia, who needed just 56 seconds to pin Lucian Thomas to the mat.
After falling behind early, Midway took the lead thanks to four consecutive wins. Christopher Sperin (149) and Daylon Stafford (165) won via 16-12 and 7-4 decisions respectively, while Brent Hudgins and Sebastian Hutchinson won by pinfall at 157 and 174.
MIDWAY 58, BLUEFIELD (N.C.) 0
Zach Lewis pinned Ajay Pai three minutes into their 125-pound match, then Jabril Williams won a 13-0 major decision over Delvin Taylor at 165. That was all the action this match would see, as Midway won the remaining eight weight classes by forfeit.
ST. THOMAS (FLA.) 27, MIDWAY 22
Midway closed with 12 consecutive points but had fallen into too deep a hole, as the Bobcats were able to escape with a tight victory.
Tyrique Simms (133) and David Emfinger (197) both earned wins via pinfall, Chris Begley won by a 9-0 major decision at 157 and Pierce got a forefit win at heavyweight.
MIDWAY 35, SIENA HEIGHTS (MICH.) 14
The Eagles fell behind 9-0 early before winning seven of the final eight matches to secure arguably their most impressive win of the day.
Sperin and Hudgins started the rally with consecutive tech falls at 149 and 157. Sperin defeated Zerrick Thomas 25-10 with Hudgins topping Alejandro Castro 20-5.
Stafford then defeated Braden Gariety 8-1 at 165 before Colligan topped Kynan Savoie by 10-2 major decision at 174. After Siena Height broke the streak with a tech fall, Emfinger and Pierce started a new one to end the day, winning by pinfall at 197 and heavyweight respectively.
After losing their first three duals of the season, the Eagles have responded by going 8-3 in their last 11. They have an extended holiday break before returning to action on Jan. 11, when they travel to Lebanon, Tenn. for a dual against a Cumberland team currently ranked 15th in the NAIA.
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