After finishing the regular season as Eastern College Athletic Conference champions, the UNCP wrestling team headed to Findlay, Ohio, on Feb. 23 and 24 to take part in the NCAA Midwest Super Regional tournament at the Koehler Fitness and Recreation Complex.
The Braves came into the postseason with the momentum of a five-game winning streak with aspirations of continuing to dominate on the mat. The Black and Gold had five wrestlers advance to the semifinal round after picking up wins on day one and then had four wrestlers place on day two.
Freshman Nick Daggett picked up a pair of commanding victories at 125lbs on the first day with a first period pin in his first match up. Then he followed up with a 18-8 major decision in his second matchup.
Rodney Shepard was one of the four Baves to
place at the Midwest Super Regional Tournament.
Photo by Joshua Reed
Redshirt sophomore Tyler Makosy picked up a pair of decision victories at 141lbs, after a first-round bye redshirt senior Eric Milks notched a 6-2 decision win and Rodney Shepard racked up a suffocating 16-3 major decision win after a bye of his own.
Sophomore Jaquon McEntyre had mixed results on the mat on day one as he dropped a match, but won his preliminary in a consolation round, however he would not place on day two of the super regionals.
On the second day of the tournament all four of the Braves that went undisputed the day before each fell once, but still managed to place in the top four of their respective divisions. After losing by a slim 7-6 decision in his first match of the day, Daggett responded with a vengeful 15-4 major decision to secure third place at the 125lbs class.
Makosy would start off his day with a major decision defeat to event champion of his division in the semifinal round, but he still finished in fourth place in the 141lbs division with a decision win followed by a decision loss. Milks would begin his day by falling via pin in the semifinal round to the eventual 157lbs class champion, but he would finish his day with a pair decision victories in the consolation rounds to finish in third place.
After dominating in his first match of the tournament the day before, Shepard lost by a slim 3-2 decision to the eventual champion at the 165lbs class, but would finish in third place with 8-2 decision win.
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