Wagers helps Rio split with UPike, Patriots

Rio Grande Sports Information
     PIKEVILLE, Ky. - Bruce Wagers picked up a pair of wins to help the University of Rio Grande wrestling team earn a split of its two dual matches in a Mid-South Conference triangular meet hosted by the University of Pikeville, Wednesday night, at UPike Gymnasium.
     The RedStorm dropped a 39-9 decision to No. 20-ranked University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), while notching a 37-15 victory over the host Bears.
     Wagers - a freshman from Cincinnati, Ohio - defeated UC's CJ Figueroa-Orduno by fall at 3:31 of their 285-pound match, while also posting a 10-3 decision over Pikeville's Gavin Hunt.
     Wagers was the only Rio wrestler to post a perfect mark on the night.
     In the victory over UPike, the quartet of freshman Colin Greenwood (Bethesda, OH), junior Lucas Chess (Urbana, OH), sophomore Amir Harris (Trotwood, OH) and freshman Westyn Moyer (Urbana, OH) all picked up forfeit wins at 125 pounds, 133 pounds, 141 pounds and 157 pounds, respectively.
     Sophomore Mitchell Freeman (Point Pleasant, WV) and freshman Aiden Greene (Bidwell, OH) also earned wins on the mat against the Bears.
     Freeman, who was tied for 24th place in the latest NAIA rankings at 149 pounds, won a 10-0 majority decision over Christopher Stiltner, while Green pinned Randall West at 4:20 of their 197-pound match.
     In addition to Wagers, Rio's other win against Cumberlands came from freshman Justin Bartee (Point Pleasant, WV), who took a 7-6 decision over Harrison Brooks at 165 pounds.
     Bartee, who was ranked No. 23 in his weight class according to the latest NAIA rankings, lost his match against UPike's Steven Lawrence, a three-time All-American.
     Freeman also went 1-1 on the night, dropping his match against Cumberlands' Jace Luchau, who is ranked No. 12 nationally.
     Rio Grande returns to action on Saturday at the Lindsey Wilson Open in Columbia, Ky.