Lander Falls to Life in Showdown of Top Programs

GREENWOOD, S.C. - Juan Edmond-Holmes made shot after shot to try to take down the fourth-ranked wrestler in NAIA in Zane Lanham but Lanham was able to defend each shot to come away with a 4-2 decision to secure a 19-16 win for the Life Running Eagles and handed Lander their first home loss since December 3rd, 2021 against West Liberty in a battle of second-ranked programs in their respective divisions.

Life improves to 16-0 on the season while Lander falls to 11-3.

James Joplin ignited the crowd of 507 fans inside Horne Arena with a 14-2 major decision to give Lander a 4-0 lead early.

The Running Eagles responded at 133 and 141 with two decisions to flip the scoreboard in their favor at 6-4.

Zeth Brower breathed life back into the crowd as the graduate student used a 13-point second period to secure a 19-3 tech fall in his home debut to give Lander the lead back at 9-6.

From there the teams alternated decisions at 157, 165, and 174 to tie the match at 12 with David Hunsberger coming just a point short of a major decision at 11-4.

Life seemed to take control at 184 with a 12-2 major decision but Anthony Yacovetti answered the call at 197 as he earned a shutout 9-0 major decision of his own over the second ranked wrestler in NAIA to tie the match up at 16 heading into the tenth and final bout.

At 285, it was a battle of fourth-ranked wrestlers. Holmes found himself down 4-0 early in the second but battled back to make it 4-2 with time to spare in the third but good defense from Zane Lanham never allowed Holmes to get a chance to secure a takedown and gave the Eagles the win.

The Bearcats head back into conference action next week as they face the Emmanuel Lions on Thursday at 7 PM inside Horne Arena.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Zeth Brower: Redshirt Junior; 141

Juan Edmond-Holmes: Graduate Student; 285

David Hunsberger: Freshman; 157

James Joplin: Sophomore; 125

Anthony Yacovetti: Junior; 197

Players Mentioned

Zeth Brower
: Redshirt Junior; 141

Juan Edmond-Holmes
: Graduate Student; 285

David Hunsberger
: Freshman; 157

James Joplin
: Sophomore; 125

Anthony Yacovetti
: Junior; 197