NEWS

CLINTON, S.C. – The Davidson College wrestling team earned a 27-13 win in the team’s season-opening Southern Conference match in Clinton, S.C., on Sunday. The ‘Cats closed the door with four straight wins on 16 points.

Points and action were not at a shortage in the opening four bouts. The two teams exchanged major decisions, the first being a 14-6 win from Marc Koch, before sophomore Dylan Smith answered back with a 14-4 major to make it a 8-4.

Presbyterian got six points back with a pin at heavyweight before Luke Passarelli swayed the momentum back on the Wildcats’ side. The junior from Irwin, Pa., scored a late takedown to defeat Brayden Adams 7-6. This put the ‘Cats ahead again, 11-10.

The final win for the Blue Hose came at 133 in a 4-0 decision in which Enis Ljikovic wrestled up a class for the second time this season. PC moved in front 13-11.

From that match on, it was all Wildcats.

Blake Reihner got the win at 141 pounds after a first-period injury, and that was followed by a commanding 18-5 major decision by Tyler-Xavier McKnight at 149. The sophomore out of Cartersville, Ga., secured his team-leading eighth win, and it came in his tenth match this season. Davidson went up 21-13.

Junior captain Tanner Peake put it out of reach for good with an 8-1 decision over Elijah Holiday. It was Peake’s third win of the week and puts him at 6-3 overall for the season.

Freshman Bryce Griffin made his dual debut in the final match and showed his ability to score points. The Bethalto, Ill., product closed out the day with a 10-5 decision over Nathan Furman to bring the final match score to 27-13.

Up Next
Davidson’s next match will come in 19 days when the ‘Cats make the trip to Durham to face the Duke Blue Devils on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.

DAVIDSON 24, PRESBYTERIAN 13
174: Marc Koch def. Reed Douglass, MD 14-6 (DAV leads 4-0)
184: Caleb Roe def. Ian McGehee, MD 18-9 (Tied 4-4)
197: Dylan Smith def. Toler Hornick, MD, 14-4 (DAV leads 8-4)
HWT: Morvens Saint-Jean def. DJ Spring II, fall 4:05 (PC leads 10-8)
125: Luke Passarelli def. Brayden Adams, dec. 7-6 (DAV leads 11-10)
133: TJ Rodier def. Enis Ljikovic, dec. 4-0 (PC leads 13-11)
141: Blake Reihner wins via medical forfeit (DAV leads 17-13)
149: Tyler-Xavier McKnight def. Ryan Luna, MD 18-5 (DAV leads 21-13)
157: Tanner Peake def. Elijah Holiday, dec. 8-1 (DAV leads 24-13)
165: Bryce Griffin def. Nathan Furman, dec. 10-5 (DAV wins 27-13)