Lander University

Bob Stoner

Wrestling 2/16/2025 7:05:00 PM Turner Kirby - Director of Athletic Communications

#12 Lander Wins Fourth Straight Conference Championship

GREENWOOD - Anthony Giampeitro (Columbus, N.J.) entered the second period of his 184-pound match down 3-1 with the King Tornado threatening to cut into a then 20-10 Lander lead in the Conference Carolinas Championship Match. But, Giampeitro showed why he was a two-time national qualifier at Millersville as he got a reversal and quickly was able to secure the pin to clinch the 12th-ranked Lander Wrestling team's fourth-straight conference championship on Sunday inside Horne Arena.

The Bearcats took down Belmont Abbey 29-13 in the semifinal match to set up a rematch between the two top teams in the West Division in the championship. With the help of Giampeitro's pin, Lander took the championship over King by a score of 34-10.

After the championship, David Hunsberger (Duncan, S.C.) was named the Most Outstanding Heavyweight Wrestler of the tournament. He also picked up his Conference Carolinas Wrestler of the Year award alongside Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, Christian Davis (Arizona City, Ariz.), in a regular season awards ceremony before the match.

Semifinal: #12 Lander 29, Belmont Abbey 13
The first meeting between the Bearcats and Crusaders opened with the team's trading wins for the first four matches. However, it was Lander who opened up a 12-7 lead as their two wins came off first-period pins from Kaden Kuenzi (Silverton, Ore.) and Isham Peace (Okatie, S.C.).

A major decision from Noah Ruolo (Petersburg, Va.) stretched the lead out to 16-7 and Hunsberger picked up his first of two tech falls of the afternoon with a 16-0 margin in 5:29.

The Crusaders did not go quietly as they picked up wins at 174 and 184 to make it 21-13 with two matches left. But Marvelous Rutledge (Dayton, Ohio) and Isaac Sheeren (Houston, Texas) closed the match with major decisions to quell any Belmont Abbey comeback hopes.

Championship Match: #12 Lander 34, King 10
Kuenzi once again ignited the large contingent of home fans with another first-period pin to open the match and before the crowd had a chance to quiet down, Davis got back on the right track after dropping his match in the semifinal with a third-period pin to give Lander a 12-0 lead after two matches. Peace came just short of a bonus point win in a 12-5 decision but still extended the Bearcat lead to 15-0.

Just as it seemed that all the momentum was in Lander's favor, King responded by winning three of the next four matches, with Hunsberger's second tech fall of the day being the Lander win in that run, to cut the Lander lead down to 20-10.

That set the stage for Giampeitro's championship-clinching pin at the 3:22 mark and Rutledge and Sheeren ended the match with an exclamation point with each picking up their second wins of the day.

The Bearcats now turn their eyes to winning their third-straight Super Region II Title in two weeks on Saturday, March 1st in Pembroke, N.C. The top three wrestlers in each weight class will punch a ticket to the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship in Indianapolis, Ind. on March 14th and 15th.

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Players Mentioned

David Hunsberger: Junior; 157

Kaden Kuenzi: Senior; 133

Isham Peace: Redshirt Junior; 141

Christian Davis: Freshman; 133

Anthony Giampeitro: Senior; 184

Noah Ruolo: Freshman

Marvelous Rutledge: Junior; 197

Issac Sheeren: Freshman; 285

Players Mentioned

David Hunsberger
: Junior; 157

Kaden Kuenzi
: Senior; 133

Isham Peace
: Redshirt Junior; 141

Christian Davis
: Freshman; 133

Anthony Giampeitro
: Senior; 184

Noah Ruolo
: Freshman

Marvelous Rutledge
: Junior; 197

Issac Sheeren
: Freshman; 285