Zack Ciboth, Sports Editor
The #6 ranked UNC Pembroke wrestling team picked up a huge victory over their rival the Belmont Abbey Crusaders Friday night at home. It was senior night for the Braves and the night did not disappoint. The Braves won five straight matches to end the match and take the 31-11 victory.
#5 ranked wrestler Logan Seliga got the night going with an electric start pining his opponent Gage Bomar in just 23 seconds to quickly give UNCP the 6-0 lead. The Crusaders responded when Elijah Boyd picked up a 11-1 major decision win over UNCP’s Logan Robinson to cut the Braves lead to 6-4. Bemont Abbey then took the 7-6 lead over the Braves in the 144-pound bout with a John Carayiannis 10-7 decision win over Skylar Caban.
The Braves regained the lead when #5 ranked wrestler Jake Piccirilli picked up a tech fall win 19-3 over Belmont Abbey’s Skylar Caban to give UNCP the 11-7 lead. Maxwell Kiel helped the Crusaders tie the match at 11-11 with a 12-4 major decision win over Mike Lowry. Braves’ Caleb Grau gave UNCP the lead back with a 9-6 decision win over Caleb Moore making it 14-11 for the Braves.
Out came #1 ranked wrestler Scotty Joll in the 174-pound bout and he was able to get a pin in 1:09 over Christian Arrington making it 20-11 UNCP. Christopher Dickey and Garrett Steele each picked up victories over their respective opponents to make it 28-11. Massimo Sullivan finished things off for the Braves with a 4-2 decison over Justin Wright to clinch the win.
The Braves will get ready for postseason action. They will host a four-team tournament for the Conference Carolina’s crown this Sunday February 18th. The four teams will be UNCP, King, Lander, and Newberry. The Braves will face King and Lander will face Newberry, both matches start at 11 a.m. The winners of both matches will face off in the Championship match later that afternoon at 3 p.m. The losers of those matches will face off at 1 p.m. for third place.