Phoenix Wrestling earns Big Win on Road to Start Conference

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland Wrestling delivered a big win in the Mid-South Conference opening dual match against Midway, securing a 30-13 victory on the road.

The Phoenix picked up seven wins in the match including two pinfalls, two tech falls, and two major decisions.

The Phoenix got off to a strong start at 125 pounds, with Truth Vesey earning a technical fall over Kapela Joseph, 17-2, to give Cumberland an early 5-0 lead. Aslan Nadeau followed up at 133 pounds with a first-period pin over Zach Lewis to extend the advantage to 11-0.

Midway responded at 141 pounds when Anthony Caruso pinned Justin Bradford at the 3:00 mark, cutting the Phoenix lead to 11-6. However, Cumberland quickly regained momentum as 15th-ranked Victor Guzman battled to an 8-5 sudden victory win over Kyler Adams at 149 pounds, making it 14-6.

Ellis Otting kept the momentum rolling for Cumberland with a commanding 12-3 major decision over Chris Begley at 157 pounds, stretching the lead to 18-6. At 165 pounds, Midway's Jabril Williams narrowly edged Ethan Gomez in a 9-8 decision to trim the deficit to 18-9.

Cumberland pulled away in the upper weights, starting with Cameron Nesbitt outlasting Sebastian Hutchinson at 174 pounds to earn a 9-5 tiebreaker victory. Rocco Horvath, ranked No. 18 nationally at 184 pounds, added a quick pin in just 1:26 over Kasen Johnson, while No. 22 Tyler Rowland dominated with a 13-0 major decision at 197 pounds, giving Cumberland a commanding 31-9 lead.

Midway closed the night with a technical fall at heavyweight, as 25th-ranked Aaron Garcia defeated Erick Willock 21-4 in 4:54. Each team lost a point throughout the match to bring the final score to 30-13.

Friday's dual against Rio Grande has been postponed due to the snow/ice in the forecast. The Phoenix will wrestle Lindsey Wilson at home on Wednesday, January 15.

Weight		MIDWAY	CU
125	Truth Vesey (CU) over Kapela Joseph (MIDWAY) (TF 17-2)	0	5
133	Aslan Nadeau (CU) over Zach Lewis (MIDWAY) (Fall)	0	11
141	Anthony Caruso (MIDWAY) over Justin Bradford (CU) (Fall 3:00)	6	11
149	#15 Victor Guzman (CU) over Kyler Adams (MIDWAY) (SV-1 8-5)	6	14
157	Ellis Otting(CU) over Chris Begley (MIDWAY) (MD 12-3)	6	18
165	Jabril Williams (MIDWAY) over Ethan Gomez (CU) (Dec. 9-8)	9	18
174	Cameron Nesbitt (CU) over Sebastian Hutchinson (MIDWAY) (TB-1 9-5)	9	21
184	#18 Rocco Horvath (CU) over Kasen Johnson (MIDWAY) (Fall 1:26)	9	27
197	#22 Tyler Rowland (CU) over David Emfinger (MIDWAY) (MD 13-0)	9	31
285	#25 Aaron Garcia (MIDWAY) over Erick Willock (CU) (TF 21-4 4:54)	14	6
	Team Point	-1	0
	Team Point	0	-1
Team Score:		13	30