Cumberland Opens MSC Dual Action with 39-9 Victory over Midway

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland University wrestling opened Mid-South Conference dual action rolling to a 39-9 victory in its league opener to remain unbeaten at 7-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

The Phoenix set the tone immediately at 125 pounds, where Chase Walker picked up a forfeit to give Cumberland an early lead. Momentum slowed at 133, as Kaleb Ruhl lost via a tech fall, but Cumberland followed with three straight technical falls of their own.

Starting at 141, Sammy Shires overwhelmed Lucas Hall in a 21-6 tech fall in the first period. At 149, McClain Otting controlled the bout from start to finish, securing a 21-2 tech fall to extend the Phoenix advantage.

The middle of the lineup continued to deliver key wins. Elijah Griffin earned a solid 12-6 decision at 157, while Ethan Gomez edged Aidan Karpinski 5-3 at 165 in a tightly contested bout.

At 174, Anthony Pyron put together another dominant performance, collecting a 20-5 technical fall in the first period to push Cumberland further out front.

Bonus points kept coming in the upper weights. Logan Heckert captured a fall at 6:38 at 184, followed quickly by Rocco Horvath, who needed just 1:39 to record a fall at 197 wrestling a weight class up. At heavyweight, Anthony Popi closed the night with a major decision over Evan Dixon for Midway to close the gap to 39-9.

The Phoenix will continue Mid-South Conference action next Tuesday on the road at Lindsey Wilson before heading to the Missouri Valley College Invite next weekend.

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Players Mentioned

Evan Dixon: 6' 1"; Sophomore

Ethan Gomez: 5' 4"; Junior

Elijah Griffin: 5' 7"; Senior

Rocco Horvath: 5' 9"; Junior

McClain Otting: 5' 7"; Junior

Anthony Pyron: 5' 10"; Junior

Kaleb Ruhl: 5' 9"; Junior

Sammy Shires: 5' 7"; Junior

Logan Heckert: 5' 9"; Junior

Chase Walker: 5' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Evan Dixon
: 6' 1"; Sophomore

Ethan Gomez
: 5' 4"; Junior

Elijah Griffin
: 5' 7"; Senior

Rocco Horvath
: 5' 9"; Junior

McClain Otting
: 5' 7"; Junior

Anthony Pyron
: 5' 10"; Junior

Kaleb Ruhl
: 5' 9"; Junior

Sammy Shires
: 5' 7"; Junior

Logan Heckert
: 5' 9"; Junior

Chase Walker
: 5' 4"; Freshman