#8 Wrestling Dominates Emory and Henry to Open 2025

GREENWOOD - The eighth-ranked Lander Wrestling team opened the 2025 calendar year for Lander Athletics in dominating fashion as they used a pin and two tech falls to help defeat the Emory and Henry Wasps, 40-16, on Thursday evening inside Finis Horne Arena.

Lander improved to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in Conference Carolinas action while Emory and Henry dropped to 0-6 and 0-4 in the league.

Five matches were forfeits (133, 165, 184, 197, 285). The split went 4-1 in favor of Lander giving the Blue and Gold a 24-6 advantage.

In the contested matches, the Wasps got on the board first at 125 with a pin and opened a 12-0 lead after Lander forfeited the 133 weight class.

Colin Oden scored the first points for Lander with a pin of his own from a defensive position to cut the lead in half at 12-6. Garrett Wood and Xander McWilliams each added a tech fall to give the Lander a lead they would not relinquish at 16-12.

Emory and Henry forfeited the 165 weight class to make it 22-12 but cut into the lead in the last contested match at 174 with a major decision.

The Wasps then forfeited the last three weight classes to give Lander the 28-point margin of victory.

The Bearcats are back in action on Sunday as they travel to Glenville, W. Va. to participate in the Glenville Quad Match where the Blue and Gold will face #2 Glenville State, #12 Grand Valley State, and #22 Gannon. Lander will face the Gannon Golden Knights first at 10:00 AM.

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Players Mentioned

Xander McWilliams: Junior; 141

Garrett Wood: Redshirt Sophomore; 157

Players Mentioned

Xander McWilliams
: Junior; 141

Garrett Wood
: Redshirt Sophomore; 157