GREENWOOD – The Lander wrestling team fell in the program's first dual match ever on Wednesday evening, dropping a 24-23 decision to Mount Olive in front of 461 fans at Finis Horne Arena. 

After Mount Olive (2-2) took the fist match of the night, Angel Hernandez brought the Bearcats back even with a 12-4 major decision win to knot the score at 4-4. Myles Starke followed with a technical fall and Darius Parker added a 10-8 decision to extend Lander's lead to 12-4.  

A disqualification and a fall gave the Trojans the lead back at 16-12, the first of five consecutive lead changes to close the match. William Olivas earned a win by medical forfeit at 133 as Lander pulled in front, 18-16. Mount Olive answered with a major decision to move ahead 20-18, but Chandler Smalley responded with a dominant technical fall at 149 to put the Bearcats up 23-20 entering the evening's final match. 

Mount Olive's Drew Wiechers closed the match for the Trojans with an 11-3 major decision, giving UMO the slim victory. 

Lander returns to action next Wednesday, Dec. 11, as the Bearcats host Truett McConnell at 7:00. 

#cLawsUp | @LanderWrestling