Williamsburg, KY – The fourth-ranked UC men's wrestling team picked up a conference win on Wednesday over the Phoenix of Cumberland University, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll, 35-9 at the UC Volleyball Gym. With the win, the Patriots improve to 11-1 overall and 4-0 in MSC duals while the Phoenix fall to 2-6 on the year and 0-2 in conference.

At 125 pounds, top-ranked Hayden Lee earned a 5-0 decision over Keyshawn Laws to start the Patriots off with a 3-0 lead. Jake Sinkovics, ranked first at 133 pounds, defeated Josh Parrett by fall at 4:39 to increase the score to 9-0. The Phoenix managed to earn a narrow 9-8 decision at 141 pounds to shorten the deficit to 9-3. However, second-ranked Tres Leon answered back at 149 pounds with a fall win at 2:16 over Evan Cole to make it 15-3 UC. In the 157 pound weight class, Bobby Ehman increased the lead further to 19-3 by upsetting 14^th-ranked Shota Sisco with a 17-7 major decision win.

The Patriots continued to stay in control after the halfway point of the match as 11^th-ranked Tristan Macri, 165 pounds, defeated Matthew Sells in a 9-1 major decision to extend the score to 23-3. Max Emerson then pinned Zach Diviney at 3:27 in the 174 pound weight class, moving up the lead to 29-3. At 184 pounds, first-ranked Cameron Jones tallied a fall win of his own at 4:11 over John Olivieri, increasing the lead to 35-3. Cumberland snagged a pair of decision wins in the final two matches, but UC managed to win the dual by a final score of 35-9.

The Patriots will return to the mat on Sunday, January 28 at 10:00 A.M. for the Cumberland Open in Lebanon, TN.

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