GATLINBURG, Tenn. - University of Pikeville wrestling faced off against Rochester Christian University (Mich.), Keiser University (Fla.), Reinhardt University (Ga.), and Cumberland University (Tenn.) at the Rocky Top Duals hosted by Life University (Ga.) Saturday.
Match 1: Rochester Christian 43, UPIKE 12
UPIKE's first match of the day saw Rochester Christian's Cristian Rojas win an 11-1 major decision over Brandon Didat in the 125. In the 133, Ethan Croom lost a 9-3 decision to Mario Orueta. The Warriors won the 157 via forfeit, but then the Bears got one back. Chase Price got the Bears on the board with six team points after pinning RCU's Sebastian Prisbe.
The Warriors got six team points back after Julius Polk defeated Randall West and then took the 184 and 197 via forfeit. ReGinald Whyte capped off the match with a fall in the 1:48 in the Martine Jacobo in the heavyweight 285 match.
Match 2: Keiser 29, UPIKE 15
Brandon Didat started off the match with a bounce back win over Keiser's Joseph Keeler in the 125, winning via fall at 5:00. Ethan Croom also bounced back in the 133, winning a 13-8 decision over Trevon Hawkins-Robertson. The Seahawks took the 149 after Joaquin Tanabe recorded a tech fall over Hayden Canady.
After the Seahawks took the 157 via forfeit, KU took the 165 after Angel Rodriguez won a 7-3 decision over Chase Price. Shane Brakke edged out Randall West 5-4 in the 174 match, then the Seahawks took the 184 and 197 via forfeit. In the heavyweight 285 match, though, ReGinald Whyte moved to 2-0 on the day with a pin at 1:40 to cap off the match.
Match 3: Reinhardt 59, UPIKE 0
In the opening match, Brandon Didat was defeated by William Bishop. The Eagles took the next two matches after Eaiden Neal defeated Ethan Croom with a tech fall in the 133 and the 141 after a forfeit. Hayden Canady was defeated by Devin Griffen in the 149, and then RU added six more points after a forfeit in the 157.
In the 165, Chase Price faced off against Nathan Napolitano by was defeated after a fall at 1:49. The Eagles would go on to take the next four matches. Randall West was defeated by Wyatt Higgins, the Eagles took the 184 and 197 via forfeit, and then ReGinald Whyte lost via fall to Caleb Pruitt in the heavyweight.
Match 4: Cumberland (Tenn.) 49, UPIKE 6
The match between the Bears and the Phoenix opened with Trust Vesey defeating Brandon Didat via an 18-1 tech fall in the 125, then Aslan Nadeau winning over Ethan Croom after a 2:35 fall. CU took the 141 via forfeit and then Hayden Canady was defeated by Elijah Grffin after a 17-2 tech fall. The Phoenix took the 157 due to a forfeit, then took the 165 after Chase Price was edged out in a close, 6-4 decision by Eli Clemmons.
The 184 and 197 went to Cumberland after forfeits, but the Bears got one back in the 285. In the heavyweight bout, ReGinald Whyte outlasted CU's Evan Dixon after pinning Dixon at 4:39. Whyte scored six team points for his squad and finished the day with a 3-1 record.
Coach Travis Mallo's squad will hit the mats again on Wednesday in Cleveland, Ga., for a match against the Truett McConnell Bears.
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