The Flying Eagle’s Men’s Wrestling team wrapped up their regular season this past Sunday, February 5th, when they traveled to historically great wrestling school at the D2 level – Newberry College in Newberry, SC.
Adnan Moaz competed in the 149-pound weight class. However, 30 seconds into his match with eventual champion Junior Downing of Lander University, the match was stopped and waved off by the Athletic Trainer, due to the diagnosis of a ‘mild concussion.’ Adnan was in a deep shot and got into a scramble and grazed his head and asked to stop the match. He has since been evaluated by our AT and is easing his way into practice this week and this weekend before resuming full practice next week to prepare for districts.
Willie Toliver competed in the 165-pound weight class. After dropping his opening match to Limestone University by way of tech fall. Willie earned a forfeit victory, and then his day ended with a pinfall loss to Huntingdon Colleges Jayson Spencer.
Billy-Jack Cupp competed in the 174-pound weight class and had a strong showing of 2-2 on the day. In his first match of the morning, he matched up with the University of South Carolinas Wrestling Club – Daniel Morales. Cupp utilized his patented neutral game to take Morales down multiple times and keep him there, to the tune of 10-2 major decision. He won his next match over D1 Queens University due to medical forfeit. In his quarterfinal’s matchup, Cupp drew NAIA All-American – Cole Tenety. The first period ended 2-0 in favor of Tenety, but Cupp was wrestling a masterful match and hanging right with a Senior All-American from Reinhardt University. The second period started with Cupp taking down and getting an escape, after another minute of action, Tenety shoved Cupp over top of spectators as they went out of bounds, earning Cupp a penalty point and notching the match 2-2. Tenety secured another takedown, yet Cupp sprang to his feet and was battling with Tenety. However, a misplacement of his underhook sent Cupp to his back and Tenety secure the fall with 28 seconds left in the 2nd period. Cupps day would finish up as he fell by pinfall against another NAIA powerhouse, Southeastern University’s – Liam Leckie.
Austin Suess competed in the 197-pound weight class, and he matched up with Division 1 University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, and App-State Open runner-up – Logan Webster. Austin was in control of the entire match and shows that his best just keeps getting better, right on time for the postseason. He dominated Webster to the tune of a 9-3 victory. In Austin’s next match he lined up against Reinhardt University’s Kyle McGill. This match was frustrating, as Austin was clearly the better wrestler, but due to some questionable tactics and calls that didn’t fall in Austin’s favor, he lost the match on a ride time point, 4-3. Austin would bounce back though, as he pinned Limestone University’s Anthony Goelzer and Patrick and Henry CC’s Tony Ray in the 1st period without giving up a point. His day would come to an end, however, as he dropped a 7-3 decision to UNC-Pembroke’s Quintez Shipman. Austin did extend his team leading wins to the significant number of 20.
The flying eagles will “hammer down” on cardio and drilling for the next two weeks, as they will travel to Scranton, PA on February 17th to compete in their national qualifying district tournament on February 18th at Lackawanna College. The NJCAA National Tournament will then be two additional weeks after that for qualifiers, March 3-4 at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, IA.