#6 Lander Dominates King 38-6 to Open 2026

GREENWOOD – In a rematch of last season's Conference Carolinas Championship match, the sixth-ranked Lander Wrestling team opened the 2026 calendar year in dominant fashion with a 38-6 win over King on Friday night inside Horne Arena.

The Bearcats won eight of ten bouts, with seven coming by bonus-point margin, as Lander controlled the dual from the opening whistle.

Kaden Kuenzi got the Blue and Gold rolling immediately at 125, needing just 45 seconds to record a first-period pin and give Lander (11-0, 4-0 CC) a 6-0 lead. #6 James Joplin and #1 Elijah Lusk followed with back-to-back major decisions at 133 and 141 to stretch the advantage to 14-0.

King (5-4, 4-2 CC) answered at 149 with a narrow decision to get on the board, but Lander quickly seized control once again. Reid Noble responded with a 19-3 technical fall in 4:06 at 157 before #2 David Hunsberger added an 18-1 tech fall in 4:28 at 165 to make it 24-4 through six matches.

At 174, Sean Crews battled tightly with fourth-ranked Clint Morrisette, falling just short in a 4-2 decision.

Lander clinched the dual at 184 as #8 Dylan Kohn breezed to a 15-0 second-period technical fall, pushing the Bearcats past the 30-point mark.

#14 Marvelous Rutledge added another hard-fought win at 197, securing a 4-1 sudden-victory decision over the 15th-ranked wrestler in the weight class, before #13 Isaac Sheeren closed the night in emphatic fashion with a first-period pin (2:06) at heavyweight.

Lander now turns its attention to the NWCA National Duals, traveling to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to compete in the event for the first time since 2024. The Bearcats have finished top five in back-to-back National Duals appearances, placing fifth in 2023 and fourth in 2024. The bracket for the event will be released next week.

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Players Mentioned

Sean Crews: 174; Sophomore; 174

David Hunsberger: 165; Senior; 157

James Joplin: 133; Graduate Student; 125

Kaden Kuenzi: 125; Graduate Student; 125

Elijah Lusk: 141; Graduate Student; 141

Reid Noble: 149; Junior; 149

Marvelous Rutledge: 197; Senior; 197

Isaac Sheeren: 285; Sophomore; 285

Dylan Kohn: 184; Graduate Student; 184

Players Mentioned

Sean Crews
: Sophomore; 174
: 174

David Hunsberger
: Senior; 157
: 165

James Joplin
: Graduate Student; 125
: 133

Kaden Kuenzi
: Graduate Student; 125
: 125

Elijah Lusk
: Graduate Student; 141
: 141

Reid Noble
: Junior; 149
: 149

Marvelous Rutledge
: Senior; 197
: 197

Isaac Sheeren
: Sophomore; 285
: 285

Dylan Kohn
: Graduate Student; 184
: 184