It’s not often that a Floridian is able to take down and pin a returning national champion.
But that’s what Kaleb Warner (Columbia ’15) was able to do last Wednesday night at home against visiting Nebraska-Kearney.
Although the dual went UNK’s way in a 27-14 loss for the Mules, Warner picked up six of those 14 points, winning by fall in the second period after building a 9-2 lead against returning Division II national champion Keith Surber (ranked 2nd in Division II by Intermat) of the Lopers, who had a highly-touted high school career out of southern Illinois.
Warner’s pin came at the 4:49 mark of the match, in which he was able to control the pace, particularly while riding on top.
Below follows a brief summary of the past few days for the Matmen-area wrestlers now wrestling collegiately:
Belmont Abbey: The Crusaders were 0-4 while hosting the NCAA Region II Super Duals last weekend, falling to #3 Ashland (37-6), Tiffin (27-19), #16 Findlay (29-19) and #15 Lake Erie (26-17). Brian Girard (Arnold ’16) made one appearance for Belmont Abbey, taking a 7-1 loss to Lake Erie’s Isaiah Wheeler at 197 on Saturday.
Brewton-Parker: MaShawn Knight (Godby ’15) was 1-2 for BPC at the Cumberland Open in Lebanon, TN, on Saturday, competing at 285. Knight lost, 7-3, in the quarters to unattached competitor Aaron Johnson, then won by fall over Allen’s Kendrick Watson in the first period (2:01) in the second round of consis. Knight then lost by fall to Reinhardt’s Johnathon Hill in 4:31 in the consi quarters. Both of Knight’s losses were to eventual placers (Johnson 3rd, Hill 4th).
Coker: Like their rival hosts, the Cobras were 0-4 at NCAA Region II Super Duals, with losses to #3 Ashland (42-3), #16 Findlay (31-12), #15 Lake Erie (40-9) and Tiffin (39-15). Robert Parland (University Christian ’13) started at 285 in all four duals for Coker, going 2-2. Parland lost 8-2 to Ashland’s Tristen Weirich and 15-1 to Findlay’s Gerald Beck, decisioned Lake Erie’s Brandon Houle, 4-1, and pinned (4:12) Tiffin’s Caleb Fry.
Davidson College: Took a tough loss on Friday night at the hands of visiting Campbell, a Division I program, as the Camels won by a 48-0 count. Noah Satterfield (Marysville OH ’15, family now in Nease district) also took a loss by fall at 174 in that dual, falling in the first period (2:39) to Campbell’s Charlie Andrews. Davidson took another loss against a Division I program on Saturday, this time it being Southern Illinois-Edwardsville that administered a 34-6 loss. Satterfield, however, had a better outcome, winning by forfeit for all of Davidson’s points, again at 174.
Florida A&M: Isaiah McNealy (Ridgeview ’12) was the Rattlers’ lone representative at the Cumberland Open, going 0-2 at 157. McNealy lost by fall to unattached wrestler Dallas Miles, the eventual runnerup, in 4:21 in the quarterfinals, then lost by injury default in the consi quarters to unattached wrestler Jeremy Gardner.
Iowa Lakes CC: It was a mixed bag of results for the two Matmen-area wrestlers in Friday night’s 30-13 loss at North Iowa Area CC in Mason City. On the upside, Kaz Maia (Flagler Palm Coast ’16) took a 5-4 decision over NIACC’s Noah Jackson (ranked 5th nationally by Intermat) at 157, while Eric Vigo (Flagler Palm Coast) fell, 13-9, at 174 to the hosts’ Tavion Askew.
Lindsey Wilson: We also learned that Max Worthington (Pedro Menendez ’17) competed unattached as a Lindsey Wilson wrestler at the Cumberland Open Saturday, at 174 pounds. Worthington won his round of 16 match over Allen’s Anthony Fullard, and then lost in the quarters via tech fall, 18-0, to Cumberlands’ Mike Kryston. In the consi second round, Worthington lost to 2017 Brandon alum Austin Deffenbaugh via tech fall, 20-5. We’re chasing down a college now.
Newberry College: Under coach and Clay alum Cy Wainwright, the Wolves were 2-2 at the Super Region II Duals, hosted by Belmont Abbey. Newberry fell to Tiffin, 36-8, in the first round, but knocked off #15 Lake Erie, 25-16. Third-ranked Ashland was too strong in a 28-9 loss for Newberry, but the Wolves closed out with a 27-19 dual win over #16 Findlay. Nolan Whitely (133) was 4-0 for Newberry, with a tech fall over Tiffin and decisions over Lake Erie, Ashland and Findlay, while Joey Rocca (174) was 2-0 in a split-time role, taking a tech fall over Lake Erie and a medical forfeit against Findlay.
South Dakota State: #12 SDSU took to the road on Sunday, winning the final three matches in a 22-13 win over Oklahoma. Under Bolles alum Chris Bono, SDSU is now 10-2 in duals, 5-0 against Big 12 Conference opponents. The dual closed out with a major decision from Martin Mueller (14-1 at 184) and wins from Nate Rotert (3-1 at 197) and Alex Macki (5-3 at 285), plus earlier points from top-ranked Seth Gross (fall at 133), Henry Pohlmeyer (7-0 at 141) and Luke Zilverberg (5-4 in double OT at 157).
Southeastern: After some big wins earlier in the week, the NAIA’s 8th-ranked Fire had a tough time in Kentucky on Friday, falling 31-8 to #9 Lindsey Wilson. In that dual, the only local to appear was Jason Davis (Fleming Island ’17), who took an 8-3 loss at 184 to Lindsey Wilson’s Colton Gonzalez.
Spartanburg Methodist: SMC took care of business at home on Saturday night, defeating visiting Truett-McConnell, 35-15. During that dual, Aaron Fountain (Suwannee ’12) won by technical fall at 157, 19-3, over TMC’s Quatrevious Brookins.
UCF NCWA: The top-ranked NCWA team competed in the NCWA National Duals in Lynchburg, VA over the weekend. In a 23-21 loss to Springfield TCC, Justin Trinh (Ridgeview ’16) took an 8-7 loss, competing at 149, to STCC’s Rey Dishmey. Trinh had a better outcome in UCF’s 51-6 defeat of Washington State, decisioning WSU’s Gunner Charbonneau, 14-8. But, in a 39-15 loss to Liberty, Trinh lost by technical fall, 23-8, to Liberty’s Chad Cantrell.
North Florida Matmen 