Lander University

Farrah Sheeren

Wrestling 2/11/2025 7:34:00 PM Turner Kirby - Director of Athletic Communications

#12 Lander Dispatches Shorter - Caps Third Straight Undefeated Conference Season

ROME, Ga. - The 12th-ranked Lander Wrestling team capped off an unblemished 9-0 Conference Carolinas record - their third in a row - on Tuesday evening as they downed the Shorter Hawks, 42-8, in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Lander (14-4, 9-0 CC) now turns their attention to the Conference Carolinas Wrestling Championships on Sunday, February 16th. The West Division Champions will host the four-team bracket inside Finis Horne Arena. They will face the Belmont Abbey Crusaders, the co-champions of the East Division, in the semifinals.

Lander got a 12-0 head start after the Hawks forfeited at 125 and 133. Shorter got on the board with one of their two wins at 141, making it 12-3 after three matches.

However, Lander established dominance after that, with three straight tech falls from Garrett Wood (Fortson, Ga.), Lucas Crosby (Spartanburg, S.C.), and Xander McWilliams (Wetumpka, Ala.), making it 27-3 after the 165-lb match.

Shorter got a tech fall of their own at 174 but a pin from Hunter Jones (Trussville, Ala.) at 184 put the match on ice.

The Hawks forfeited at 197 before Charles Higdon (Woodstock, Ga.) closed the day with a 6-3 decision.

The Conference Carolinas will officially release the bracket and tournament information on Wednesday. The semifinal matches are scheduled to start simultaneously at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, followed by the third-place match at 1:00 p.m. and the Championship Match at 3:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Lucas Crosby: Sophomore; 149

Charles Higdon: Sophomore; 197

Hunter Jones: Sophomore

Xander McWilliams: Junior; 141

Garrett Wood: Redshirt Sophomore; 157

Players Mentioned

Lucas Crosby
: Sophomore; 149

Charles Higdon
: Sophomore; 197

Hunter Jones
: Sophomore

Xander McWilliams
: Junior; 141

Garrett Wood
: Redshirt Sophomore; 157