Lander University

Bob Stoner

Wrestling 1/15/2025 10:06:00 PM Turner Kirby - Director of Athletic Communications

#8 Lander Takes Inside Track in West Division with 37-4 win over King

BRISTOL, Tenn. - The eighth-ranked Lander Wrestling team took a big step toward their second consecutive Conference Carolinas West Division title on Wednesday evening as they took down the King Tornado, 37-4, inside the King University Student Center Complex. The two teams came into the matchup as the last two unbeaten teams in the West Division and were the two representatives from the division in last season's Conference Carolinas Tournament.

Lander improved to 10-3 overall, 6-0 in conference, and 3-0 in their division. The win was the Bearcats' 25th consecutive win in conference play. King dropped to 7-6 overall with a 4-2 league and 2-1 division record.

Kaden Kuenzi (Silverton, Ore.) started the match in a big way at 125, only needing 1:20 to pin King's Tyson Upchurch to give Lander an early 6-0 lead.

From there, Lander rattled off three more bonus point wins as Christian Davis (Arizona City, Ariz.) used a third-period takedown to secure an 8-0 major decision at 133 while Isham Peace (Okatie, S.C.) and Reid Noble (Plant City, Fla.) each added tech falls to make the score 20-0, Bearcats, after four matches.

King got on the board at 157 with a major decision but David Hunsberger (Duncan, S.C.) quashed any momentum the hosts had with a 20-4 tech fall to make it 25-4.

Nathan Buckovich picked up a 7-2 decision at 174 to clinch the Bearcat victory and Anthony Giampeitro (Columbus, N.J.), Marvelous Rutledge (Dayton, Ohio), and Issac Sheeren (Houston, Texas) closed out the match with decisions.

Lander will compete in the Conference Carolinas Developmental Championship on Monday, January 20th, at Belmont Abbey and then return to dual action on Wednesday, January 22nd, against NAIA Powerhouse Life University. This will be the third meeting between the two powerhouses in their divisions with the teams splitting the first two meetings in Greenwood the last two seasons. First whistle for the dual is slated for 5:00 PM.

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Players Mentioned

Nathan Buckovich: Redshirt Junior; 184

David Hunsberger: Junior; 157

Kaden Kuenzi: Senior; 133

Reid Noble: Sophomore; 149

Isham Peace: Redshirt Junior; 141

Christian Davis: Freshman; 133

Anthony Giampeitro: Senior; 184

Marvelous Rutledge: Junior; 197

Issac Sheeren: Freshman; 285

Players Mentioned

Nathan Buckovich
: Redshirt Junior; 184

David Hunsberger
: Junior; 157

Kaden Kuenzi
: Senior; 133

Reid Noble
: Sophomore; 149

Isham Peace
: Redshirt Junior; 141

Christian Davis
: Freshman; 133

Anthony Giampeitro
: Senior; 184

Marvelous Rutledge
: Junior; 197

Issac Sheeren
: Freshman; 285