Bob Stoner

Wrestling 2/15/2026 3:37:00 PM Turner Kirby - Director of Athletic Communications

One for the Thumb – No. 15 Lander Dominates Twice to Win Fifth Straight Conference Carolinas Title

PEMBROKE, N.C. – The 15th-ranked Lander Wrestling team turned in one of the most dominant days in program history Sunday, winning 19 of 20 bouts to claim their fifth-straight league crown at the Conference Carolinas Wrestling Championship inside Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.

Lander rolled past Belmont Abbey, 43-3, in the semifinals before shutting out host and 24th-ranked UNC Pembroke, 39-(-2), in the championship match. Both victories marked the largest margins over each opponent in program history.

The title is Lander's third under the current Conference Carolinas banner, to go along with two South Atlantic Conference Carolinas championships.

The Bearcats' 43 points in the semifinal were their most ever in the Conference Carolinas Championship, while the 39 points in the title bout were the most in a championship match in program history and the second-most ever at the championship site.

Semifinal: #15 Lander 43, Belmont Abbey 3
Lander made sure there would be no repeat of November's early deficit against the Crusaders.

Kaden Kuenzi and #7 James Joplin opened the dual with bonus-point wins to stake the Bearcats to a 9-0 lead. After Belmont Abbey picked up its lone win at 141, Lander slammed the door with seven straight victories, six coming with bonus points.

Isham Peace earned his fourth major decision of the season at 149, and Noah Roulo shook off a frantic opening period at 157 to roll to a 27-11 technical fall. David Hunsberger pushed his Division II-leading tech fall total to 12 with a 19-3 victory.

Maxwell Kiel clinched the dual with a shutout major decision against his former team. Dylan Kohn added another major at 184 before Marvelous Rutledge and Isaac Sheeren capped the rout with first-period pins.

Championship: #15 Lander 39, #24 UNC Pembroke -2
The final was just as decisive.

Kuenzi set the tone with a 19-2 technical fall in 4:07, and Joplin followed with a ranked win over #6 Logan Robinson to extend the lead. Elijah Lusk secured a late escape to claim an 8-7 decision at 141.

Tempers flared at 149 as Isham Peace defeated Avery Buonocore in sudden victory. Following multiple exchanges with the match officials, UNC Pembroke head coach O.T. Johnson was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in a two-point team deduction that pushed the Braves into negative territory on the scoreboard.

Reid Noble added a major decision, and Hunsberger delivered the decisive blow with a second-period pin to make it 24-0 with four bouts remaining.

Kiel tacked on a technical fall with a takedown in the closing seconds, and Kohn followed with his second major decision of the day. Rutledge and Sheeren capped the championship with 4-1 decisions.

The shutout marked the first in program history over UNC Pembroke and avenged the only shutout loss in Lander history, which came against the Braves during the program's inaugural season. It was also the first time UNC Pembroke was shut out by a Division II opponent since 2006.

With both the West Division and overall conference titles secured, the Bearcats now turn their attention to the NCAA Super Region II Championship on Feb. 28 inside Horne Arena, where they will look to capture their fourth straight regional crown.

Results Recap
Semifinal – Lander 43, Belmont Abbey 3

125 – Kaden Kuenzi (LAND) over Michael Dibiase (BAC) (TF 17-0, 5:32)
133 – James Joplin (LAND) over Elijah Carrington (BAC) (MD 14-6)
141 – Luke Kunath (BAC) over Elijah Lusk (LAND) (Dec 10-3)
149 – Isham Peace (LAND) over Dylan Drinkard (BAC) (MD 13-3)
157 – Noah Roulo (LAND) over Zachary Bergman (BAC) (TF 27-11, 5:45)
165 – David Hunsberger (LAND) over Austin Marry (BAC) (TF 19-3, 4:04)
174 – Maxwell Kiel (LAND) over Christian Arrington (BAC) (MD 8-0)
184 – Dylan Kohn (LAND) over Palmer Smith (BAC) (MD 14-1)
197 – Marvelous Rutledge (LAND) over Andy Morales (BAC) (Fall 1:34)
285 – Isaac Sheeren (LAND) over Edison Morales (BAC) (Fall 1:47)

Championship – Lander 39, UNC Pembroke -2

125 – Kaden Kuenzi (LAND) over Spencer May (UNCP) (TF 19-2, 4:07)
133 – James Joplin (LAND) over Logan Robinson (UNCP) (Dec 4-1)
141 – Elijah Lusk (LAND) over Donovan Edwards (UNCP) (Dec 8-7)
149 – Isham Peace (LAND) over Avery Buonocore (UNCP) (SV-1 8-5)
157 – Reid Noble (LAND) over Keegan Roberson (UNCP) (MD 15-2)
165 – David Hunsberger (LAND) over Caleb Grau (UNCP) (Fall 4:02)
174 – Maxwell Kiel (LAND) over Logan Hoffman (UNCP) (TF 21-6, 6:57)
184 – Dylan Kohn (LAND) over Quintez Shipman (UNCP) (MD 10-1)
197 – Marvelous Rutledge (LAND) over Jackson Buck (UNCP) (Dec 4-1)
285 – Isaac Sheeren (LAND) over James Banlston (UNCP) (Dec 4-1)

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