COLUMBIA, S.C. - The 14th-ranked Lander Wrestling team convincingly opened their season on Wednesday evening as they shut out the Allen Yellow Jackets, 52-0, inside John Hurts Adams Gymnasium. In addition to winning all ten matches, the Bearcats won nine via bonus points, including six straight pins.
Lander improves to 1-0 overall and in Conference Carolinas action while Allen drops to 0-1 overall and in the league.
"It was a good effort from the squad top to bottom," head coach R.C. LaHaye said. "Had some new faces in the lineup and they went out and handled business"
Before the official matches started, Ransom Randolph and Hayden Lawter each picked up second-period pins in exhibition bouts.
William Hamilton opened the season with a 14-3 major decision that included a wild second period that saw three reversals, two coming from Hamilton, to give Lander a 4-0 lead.
The six-pin streak started at 133 with Christian Davis, he was then followed by Isham Peace, Garrett Wood, Sammy Gerard, David Hunsberger, and Nathan Buckovich to make it 40-0, Bearcats, after seven matches.
At 184, Hunter Jones staved off a late rally by Jerrel Baskins of Allen to grit out a 7-5 decision.
Marvelous Rutledge picked up a 15-2 major decision with seven-point periods in the first and third to give him the winning margin before Isaac Sheeran used a ten-point third period to close the match with a 17-2 tech fall.
The Bearcats return to action on Friday, November 8th to face the Newberry Wolves on the deck of the USS Yorktown in Charleston, S.C. The approximate start time for the match is 5:15 PM.
Results:
125: William Hamilton (LAND) over Xavier Anderson (ALL) (MD 14-3)
133: Christian Davis (LAND) over Derrius Coleman (ALL) (Fall 1:17)
141: Isham Peace (LAND) over Nyshaad Hannon (ALL) (Fall 2:30)
149: Garrett Wood (LAND) over Drevon Wallace (ALL) (Fall 4:32)
157: Sammy Gerard (LAND) over ian shaffer (ALL) (Fall 1:39)
165: David Hunsberger (LAND) over Ya`Donnis Hardaway (ALL) (Fall 0:26)
174: Nathan Buckovich (LAND) over Farrad Moore (ALL) (Fall 3:32)
184: Hunter Jones (LAND) over Jerrel Baskins (ALL) (Dec 7-5)
197: Marvelous Rutledge (LAND) over Christian Poplous (ALL) (MD 15-2)
285: Isaac Sheeren (LAND) over Rubin Izzard Jr (ALL) (TF 18-2 7:00)
