NEWS

Tyler-Xavier McKnight in a home match last season.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Tyler-Xavier McKnight and Tyson Sherlock were the first Wildcats to place at the Southern Scuffle after capturing sixth and eight place finishes respectively. 

Since 2003, Davidson has competed at the Scuffle seven times and have never had a place winner. That narrative changed on Sunday after McKnight went 5-3 to finish sixth. The sophomore out of Cartersville, Ga. responded from a first-round loss with five wins in a row before falling to No. 1 overall seed Willie McDougald of Oklahoma in the consolation semifinals. In the fifth-place bout, McKnight fell to Clarion’s Kyle Schnickel, but not before he moved his season record to 20-7.

Sherlock, a freshman from Pittsburgh, started off hot with a 4-1 start. The 141-pounder also picked up the highest upset win over a ranked opponent after he won 9-3 over No. 1 overall seed and No. 8-ranked Mosha Schwartz (Oklahoma) in the second consolation quarterfinal. Unfortunately, he was forced out of his next match due to a medical forfeit. 

Junior captain Tanner Peake advanced to the quarterfinals on day one of the competition. Peake, a junior from Flemington, N.J., entered the weekend ranked No. 25 in FloWrestling’s 157-pound rankings and earned the tournament’s no. 2-seed. He found his way to the quarterfinals following a 6-1 first-round victory over Duke’s Logan Ferrero and a 4-1 overtime win over North Dakota State’s Gabriel Schumm. Peake worked a takedown in the final minute of the first overtime period to move on. He was forced out of the tournament in the quarterfinal round after an injury. 

Davidson’s 30.5 team points was also the most by the program at the Southern Scuffle. 

Up Next
The Wildcats will have next week off before starting preparations for the Davidson Duals on Jan. 17.