Farrah Sheeren

Wrestling 1/20/2026 9:39:00 PM Turner Kirby - Director of Athletic Communications

Lander Dominates Emory and Henry and Bluefield State in Return to Conference Play

EMORY, Va. - The sixth-ranked Lander wrestling team returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion on Tuesday evening as they dispatched the Emory and Henry Wasps 49-3 and the Bluefield State Big Blue 40-8 in a pair of Conference Carolinas West Division matches.

Lander improved to 15-3 overall and 6-0 in Conference Carolinas play, including a perfect 3-0 mark in the West Division. The Bearcats have now won 35 straight conference duals in a streak that dates back to the 2021-22 season, which culminated in the program's first conference championship.

#6 Lander 49, Emory and Henry 3

Lander opened the night by picking up four wins by forfeit at 125, 133, 197, and 285 to quickly build a 24-0 advantage.

Oren Decker and Kaden Kuenzi got the Blue and Gold started with uncontested victories before the Wasps got on the board in the first contested bout of the night, making it 12-3. It proved to be the hosts' only win of the dual.

Garrett Wood responded with four first-period takedowns to roll to a 19-3 second-period tech fall. Reid Noble followed with an 18-2 second-period tech fall of his own to extend the Lander lead.

Ransom Randolph earned a hard-fought 2-1 decision at 165, using a strong second-period ride to secure the riding time point. Xander McWilliams and Sean Crews closed out the contested bouts with pins before Champ Higdon and Isaac Sheeren each won by forfeit to finish the match.

#6 Lander 40, Bluefield State 8

Bluefield State struck first at 125, but Lander answered immediately as Kuenzi needed just 37 seconds in the second period to secure a 16-1 technical fall and swing the momentum back in the Bearcats' favor.

The Big Blue responded with a tech fall at 141, but Wood put Lander back on top with a nine-point third period to earn a major decision. The Bearcats would not trail again the rest of the night.

Noble was leading 9-2 before his bout was stopped and later ruled an injury default in Lander's favor, adding six more points. Randolph followed with a 13-10 decision at 165, and McWilliams added his second pin of the evening at 174.

Higdon picked up his second win by forfeit at 197 before Sheeren, who was named the Conference Carolinas Wrestler of the Week earlier in the day for the second time this season, closed the night with a pin in 6:45.

Lander returns to action Wednesday evening as they travel to Harrogate, Tenn., to face the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters. First whistle is set for 5:00 p.m.

Lander vs. Emory and Henry
125: Oren Decker (LAND) won by forfeit
133: Kaden Kuenzi (LAND) won by forfeit
141: Gavin Warner (E&H) over Dominic D`Ambrosio (LAND) (Dec 16-9)
149: Garrett Wood (LAND) over Isaac Hensley (E&H) (TF 19-3 3:38)
157: Reid Noble (LAND) over Levi Field (E&H) (TF 18-2 4:47)
165: Ransom Randolph (LAND) over Sebastian Gabarrete (E&H) (Dec 2-1)
174: Xander McWilliams (LAND) over Colton Lewis (E&H) (Fall 2:53)
184: Sean Crews (LAND) over Raul Lopez-Aguilar (E&H) (Fall 3:53)
197: Champ Higdon (LAND) won by forfeit
285: Isaac Sheeren (LAND) won by forfeit

Lander vs. Bluefield State
125: Trey Williams (BSU) over Oren Decker (LAND) (Dec 4-1)
133: Kaden Kuenzi (LAND) over Zaire Taylor (BSU) (TF 16-1 3:37)
141: Malik Johnson (BSU) over Dominic D`Ambrosio (LAND) (TF 21-6)
149: Garrett Wood (LAND) over Brandon Reed (BSU) (MD 16-5)
157: Reid Noble (LAND) over Michael Adams (BSU) (Inj. Def. 1:40)
165: Ransom Randolph (LAND) over Jaylen Carter (BSU) (Dec 13-10)
174: Xander McWilliams (LAND) over Trevon Brooks (BSU) (Fall 4:35)
184: Sean Crews (LAND) over Marcus Allen (BSU) (MD 11-2)
197: Champ Higdon (LAND) won by forfeit
285: Isaac Sheeren (LAND) over Devin Moore (BSU) (Fall 6:45)

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Players Mentioned

Sean Crews: 174; Sophomore; 174

Oren Decker: 125; Redshirt Junior; 125

Kaden Kuenzi: 125; Graduate Student; 125

Xander McWilliams: 157; Senior; 157

Reid Noble: 149; Junior; 149

Ransom Randolph: 165; Junior; 165

Isaac Sheeren: 285; Sophomore; 285

Garrett Wood: 157; Redshirt Junior; 157

Players Mentioned

Sean Crews
: Sophomore; 174
: 174

Oren Decker
: Redshirt Junior; 125
: 125

Kaden Kuenzi
: Graduate Student; 125
: 125

Xander McWilliams
: Senior; 157
: 157

Reid Noble
: Junior; 149
: 149

Ransom Randolph
: Junior; 165
: 165

Isaac Sheeren
: Sophomore; 285
: 285

Garrett Wood
: Redshirt Junior; 157
: 157