By: Briley Lawson
Williamsburg, KY – To open up the dual season for the #13 Cumberlands, the team faced tough competition, going 2-2 at the Patriot Duals on day one of the competition. UC finished third in their group and will now be in the Red Bracket for the final day. On the day, the Patriots had seven wrestlers go undefeated: Presley Anderson, Saiheron Preciado-Meza, MaQuoia Bernabe, Camarie Cunningham, Naomi Duenas, Dylan Hernandez, and Cierra Abrego.
#13 CUMBERLANDS FIGHTS AGAINST EMMANUEL, 16-32
The Lions were quick to attack the Patriots and take an early 0-5 lead. In the 109-bout, Gracie Elliott battled and put her opponent in a takedown for the first point in the match. Elliott continued to control her opponent and came away with a 14-3 tech fall, making the team score 4-6.
The Lions recorded another fall to raise the team score to 4-11, but Andersen followed up Elliott's performance with a 7-6 decision, making the team score 7-12. The Lions quickly took control of the match with four straight falls, giving them a 7-32 advantage.
The Patriots were able to add to their team score in the 170-bout. Preciado-Meza earned a pair of takedowns before earning the fall at 4:39, raising the team score to 12-32. Bernabe rounded out with a quick match for Cumberlands, recording a 10-0 tech fall to finalize the team score at 16-32 in favor of the Lions.
#13 CUMBERLANDS BLANKS (RV) ST. ANDREWS, 40-0
A forfeit followed by a double forfeit to start the dual gave UC a 5-0 lead when Elliott stepped on the mats for the 116 matchup. She wasted no time, getting the fall in 2:36 to make it a 10-0 UC lead.
Another forfeit for the Knights was followed a trio of falls from Kaitlin Castro and Camarie Cunningham. Castro earned a pair of takedowns in the first period and collected the fall win at 5:03 to increase the lead to 20-0. Cunningham followed in Castro's trail, with a pair of takedowns and collecting the fall at 4:03 for a team score of 25-0. Tatiana Encinas rounded out the falls with a quick match of her own, collecting the pin at 1:08. Raising the team score to 30-0.
A double forfeit and a pair of forfeits finalized the team score at 40-0 in favor of the Patriots.
#13 CUMBERLANDS BATTLES WITH TIFFIN, 24-24
The Dragons took an early lead against the Patriots with a 10-0 tech fall in the 101-bout and a fall in the 109-match for a 0-9 team score, in favor of the Dragons. UC quickly turned the momentum with Bella Savage's second match of the day. After a takedown, Savage marked a fall at 1:33 to even the team score at 5-9. The Pats were able to capture the lead after a forfeit in the 123-match, seeing the team score at 10-9.
Both teams were back-and-forth, with the Dragons collecting their second fall of the match in 1:39 to recapture the lead, 10-14. For UC, Dow came in with urgency and used a takedown to collect a 10-0 tech fall, evening the score at 14-14.
The Dragons saw their third and final fall of the afternoon at 1:39, paired with a forfeit in the 155-match to jump ahead, 14-24. UC dominated in the 170 bout with Preciado-Meza earning a fall at 0:46 to remain undefeated on the day. A forfeit in the 191-match saw UC tie the team score at 24-24, leaving the match to a tiebreaker. The match was in favor of the Dragons after comparing the number of falls within the dual.
#13 CUMBERLANDS DOMINATES LINCOLN MEMORIAL, 40-10
The Pats set the tone for the dual earning 15 quick points after a trio of forfeits. The Railsplitters fought with grit and accumulated their lone fall of the dual at 3:00, making the team score 15-5.
An urgent fall for Hernandez at 0:41 was followed by another forfeit from the Railsplitters. Encinas accumulated a well-earned fall at 2:37, raising the team score to 30-5.
A trio of forfeits, one for UC and two for the Railsplitters saw the dual ending at 40-10, in favor of the Patriots.
UC will return to the mats, tomorrow, Saturday December 2nd for day two of the Patriot Duals. Competition is set for a 10AM ET start.
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