Jayden Berkin, Sports Reporter
The #6 ranked UNC Pembroke Wrestling team went 1-1 in the Conference Carolinas Championship Tournament with a win over King University and a loss to Lander University. The Braves placed 2nd overall in the tournament and conference overall.
#5 ranked Logan Seliga got the Braves going with a first-period pin in the 125 lb bout. The Tornado would go on to win the 133 lb bout, but the Braves responded in dominant fashion, winning the next five bouts, with one of those bouts being a major decision win from 5th ranked 149 pounder, Jake Piccirli. Additionally, Scott Joll, the Conference Carolinas Wrestler of the Year and a top-ranked 174-pounder scored a pin for the Braves to stretch the lead 25-6. King would go on to take the last three bouts, but it just wasn’t enough, as the Braves won 25-18.
The Bearcats ranked #2 team in the country, jumped out to a 22-0 lead over the Braves after six matches. However, Scott Joll got the Braves rolling in this match with a pin, making this his 17th pin of the season and making him 26-0 overall. The fun didn’t stop there, as Christopher Dickey put on an entertaining match that he would go on to win 7-6 in thrilling fashion. Unfortunately for the Braves, Lander would go on to win the next three bouts and round out the tournament with a 29-9 win, claiming the Conference Carolina’s title.
“I thought the guys went out there and fought hard…gave everything they had and pushed their opponents to their brinks.” Head coach Othello “O.T.” Johnson said.
The Braves will get ready for postseason action at the NCAA Super Region II Championship in Greenwood, S.C. on March 2nd at Horne Arena. The first match is slated to start at 10 A.M.