RESULTS
Marietta, GA – With just six wrestlers able to suit up in the dual against #5 Life University, the seventh ranked Patriots knew the odds were stacked against them. However, the team never wavered and almost pulled out the victory, losing 28-19.

Due to the weight-classes of the UC wrestlers only five student-athletes could compete across the ten matches. This would result in five forfeit victories for the Running Eagles giving them an automatic 25 points.

Knowing that each wrestler had to pin their opponent in order for Cumberlands to win the dual, gave Elizabeth Dosado extra motivation for her match. The fifth ranked wrestler at 101, Dosado, proved herself against Devyn Gomez. Dosado got out to an early lead and quickly turned it into a 10-0 advantage. The score was good enough for a tech fall victory, but knowing UC needed the points the freshman fought to turn Gomez on her back to win by fall. After 1:56 Dosado was able to win by pin, giving UC the 5-0 lead.

Jaine Stephens, ranked fifth, then took to the mats for her 109-weight class matchup against tenth ranked Katalina Bartelt. After some back-and-forth action, Stephens was able to get a two-point takedown that she was able to flip Bartelt over on. Bartelt tried to hold Stephens off, but after about 15 seconds Stephens persevered and earned the fall victory at 1:21. This marks her sixth consecutive win by fall in a row.

The Patriots led 10-0, but then forfeited three matches in a row giving Life the 15-10 advantage heading into the 136 matchup.

Life sent Briana Kellin, ranked ninth at 130 up against the #2 ranked wrestler in the 136-weight class, Bridgette Duty. Wrestling up a weight-class proved to be too much for Kellin, who spent most of the match on the defense. Duty tried to earn takedowns, but Kellin held her off and then eventually gave up a point to Duty for stalling. The Needville, TX native took the 1-0 advantage into the second period and needed just 24 seconds to earn a two-point takedown. Duty earned another two-point takedown before grabbing two more points from her signature leg lace. With time expiring, Kellin tried to be the aggressor, but Duty shut her down and picked up two more points on a takedown to secure the 9-0 decision. The win put UC just behind Life at 13-15.

In the 143-weight class 17^th ranked Ashley Ikner took on Angelina Prado. Ikner attacked her opponent early, getting a two-point take down in under 20 seconds. After the reset, Ikner continued to be aggressive, using a headlock to earn a four-point takedown that ultimately resulted in a fall at 1:04. UC now led Life 18-15 winning all four matches they competed in.

Cumberlands would drop the match at 155 by tech fall and then forfeit the final two matches giving the Running Eagles the 29-18 victory.

The loss moves Cumberlands to 1-1 in the Mid-South Conference and 2-2 overall, while Life improves to 6-1 on the season and 3-1 in the Mid-South Conference.

Both teams will head to Franklin Springs, GA for the Emmanuel Open on Sunday, January 24. The tournament starts at 9 AM with the livestream found here.

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