Gatlinburg, TN – The fifth ranked Patriots competed in the Rocky Top Duals on Saturday, leaving with a 4-0 record and a win over the top ranked team in the NAIA with multiple wrestlers going undefeated.  

#5 Cumberlands Shuts Out Rochester Christian University, 52-0 

UC won 52-0 over Rochester Christian University with six falls and two decisions. The Pats started the dual with two wins by fall from #11 Matteo Vargo (3:53) and #12 Chandlar Akins (2:54) to take an early 12-0 lead. #8 Gage Hudson defeated Hunter Thomson by a 14-4 major decision. #3 Jace Luchau returned to the mat by notching a fall of 2:19 against Adam Polk, followed by a fall notched at 1:19 from Malachia Harris over Nate Young. #11 O'Brian Black earned six points after notching a fall of 1:44 over Keegan Switzenberg and TJ Huber won over Julius Polk in a 7-6 decision. #7 Thomas Ketchen-Carter notched a fall of his own of 1:29 and #15 Greyson Stevens earned six points with a forfeit. Wylie Dunn secured the final match of the dual with a 7-6 decision victory over Martine Jacobo. Jovon Howe was the extra wrestler for UC and notched a fall of 4:42 over his opponent.  

#5 Cumberlands Soars Past Andrew College, 55-0 

In the second matchup of the day, the Pats defeated Andrew College with a score of 55-0. Vargo opened in the 125-weight class against Corey Dye with a technical fall, 16-1, followed by a fall notched at 0:55 by Trenton Pagaduan over Alex Tabb to gain an 11-0 lead. Eli Peyton defeated Aiden Lipford by technical fall, 17-1, and Caleb Mays notched a fall at 3:34 over Jayden Draper. UC notched five consecutive falls after that from Marc Le Gaspe (1:39), Weston Melvin (2:12), #10 Dylan Preston (2:23), Sherman Dixon (0:36), and Greyson Stevens (0:51). Austin Silva ended the match with a 5-2 decision over Abe Preston.  

#5 Cumberlands Downs #1 Life University, 25-10 

The Patriots had success knocking off top-ranked Life University with a strong 25-10 score. Vargo took the first match against Keegan Slyter by major decision, 11-0. Akins followed that up with a 7-1 decision win over Ethan Sellers in the 133-weight class. Peyton secured a sudden death victory against Jordan Mitchell by a score 4-1 to give UC an early 10-0 lead. Luchau was able to tack on three more after defeating Kaleb Rahoi in a 7-2 decision. Black and Preston also recorded decision victories of 5-3 and 9-7 to extend the lead to 19-3. Preston took down #4 Steven Villalobos in the 174-weight class. Ketchen-Carter was able to add six more off a forfeit.  

#5 Cumberlands Knockout Liberty in Final Matchup, 41-0 

In the last dual of the day, the Patriots had no letup, not allowing Liberty to score and taking the dual 41-0. Vargo started the Pats off with a 10-6 decision over Aiden Scheeringa, followed by 4-2 decision win for Pagaduan. Hudson earned six points after notching a fall of 2:13 to give UC a 12-0 advantage. Sophomore Caleb Mays took his matchup against Garrett Good by technical fall, 16-0, and Le Gaspe won the 157-bout over Matox Allen with a major decision, 14-5. Melvin tacked on three more to lead after defeating Drake Bowers in a 2-0 decision to make the score, 24-0. Huber earned five points after winning by technical fall, followed by Dixon who notched a fall at the 3:25 mark. Howe and Silva added three more each with decision victories of 8-3 and 6-2, respectively to sweep Liberty.  

UC will be back in action Friday, December 20th for the Battle for the Bluegrass which will be held at The Corbin Arena. Matches are set to begin at 9 a.m. 

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