Marshall, MO – The #4 UC Men's Wrestling team traveled to Marshall, MO this weekend to compete in the Missouri Valley Invitational. Cumberlands finished seventh out of 30 teams and had five wrestlers place including Weston Melvin, #7 Adonis Boyd, Sherman Dixon, Eli Peyton, and Malachia Harris.

Weston Melvin was the top finisher for UC and placed third in the 165-bout with an impressive 7-1 record. He started the tournament by nothing back-to-back falls of 6:44 and 3:37 over Caleb Johnson-White (Montreat) and Braedyn Rakes (Morningside). He continued that success with a 5-0 decision victory over Ethan Gomez (Cumberland University). The junior marked a 3-point takedown in the first, an escape in the second, and another escape in the third period to move on. In the next round, Melvin fell to #14 Cameron Hargrove (William Penn) in a hard-fought 4-3 decision. Melvin rebounded with a close 2-1 decision win over Jabril Williams (Midway), scoring on an escape and riding time. In his sixth matchup of the day, recording a 3-point takedown and an escape, Melvin defeated Abe Hafez (Midway) by decision, 4-2. Against #12 Travis Waldner (Montana State-Northern), Melvin got a tight 4-1 sudden death victory with a 3-point takedown in overtime to move into the third place match. Melvin secured the win due to a medical forfeit by #14 Cameron Hargrove (William Penn) to finish third.

Finishing fifth in the 125-weight class was #7 Adonis Boyd with a 5-2 mark. He took his first three matches by fall. The first was in 3:46 over Justin Rodriguez (Hastings). The next was against Logan Schroeder (Northwestern) in 1:23 while also recording a 3-point takedown and a 4-point nearfall. Boyd then notched a fall of 1:37 against #15 Matthew Terrence (Doane University). Boyd followed that up with a narrow 2-1 decision win over #12 Arojae Hart (Central Methodist), collecting points on an escape and a penalty. In the semifinals, Boyd fell to #5 Freddy Barajas (University of Saint Mary). In the consolation bracket, Boyd matched up against Terrence for a second time but fell. Boyd bounced back by recording his fourth fall of the tournament, this time it was over #10 Roman De La Cruz (University of Saint Mary) in 3:28.

Also finishing fifth was Sherman Dixon in the 174-weight class. He opened with a bye before knocking off #4 Roman Garcia by a 7-1 decision. Dixon tallied two 3-point takedowns and an escape in the match. The senior followed that up with an 8-5 decision victory over Sean Houston (Brewton-Parker), highlighted by six points in the third period with a 3-point takedown, 2-point nearfall, and an escape. Dixon was able to advance to the semifinals after a medical forfeit by #14 Leo Galasso (Indiana Tech) but fell to #7 Gavin Morrissey (Missouri Valley). Dixon would then drop his next match to send him to the fifth place match where he won by forfeit over Abel Nava (Providence).

Eli Peyton earned eighth place with a record of 4-3 in the 141-bout. Peyton started the tournament in convincing fashion, winning by technical fall over Camden Whitehead (Texas Wesleyan), 17-2. In the match, Peyton recorded five 3-point takedowns, an escape, and a penalty. He then went on to face Drake Montelongo (Lindsey Wilson) and marked a 3-point takedown, an escape, and riding time to win in a 5-1 decision. Peyton didn't stop there as he took down #20 Cole Mckinley (Lourdes) by a 7-3 decision with two 3-point takedowns and an escape. Peyton would fall in his next match to #3 Hartwell Taylor (University of Saint Mary), sending him to the consolation bracket. The junior defeated #23 Tyler Deen (Missouri Baptist) in a 11-4 decision to secure his second ranked win of the tournament. Peyton scored on two 3-point takedowns, a 4-point nearfall, and riding time to take the match. He would then fall in his next two matches to place eighth.

157-lbs wrestler Malachia Harris also collected an eighth place finish after going 5-3. Harris would drop his first match of the tournament before rattling off five straight wins. His first win would come against Ellis Otting (Cumberland University) by major decision, 10-2. Harris tallied three 3-point takedowns and an escape. The freshman followed that up with a dominating 19-4 technical fall victory over Noah Richardson (Missouri Baptist) to move on. The freshman would advance in his next match due to a forfeit from #21 Ezavian Ortega (Friends University). Harris defeated Makoa Goeas (Missouri Valley) by technical fall, 18-3, highlighted by eight points in third period on two 3-point takedowns, an escape, and riding time. Harris kept that momentum going into his matchup with #12 Jeff Dunasky (Marian), winning by a 7-1 decision. Harris scored on two 3-point takedowns and an escape to take the match. For the eighth place finish, Harris fell to Justin Windauer (Montana State-Northern) and #24 Thade Radosa (Cornerstone).

UC will return home to face the University of Rio Grande in a senior night dual, hosted in the UC Volleyball Gym in Williamsburg, KY. The dual is set to begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday January 29th.

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