Phoenix sweeps dual from Rio men

Rio Grande Sports Information
     LEBANON, Tenn. - Cumberland University posted eight on-mat victories and two forfeit wins en route to a 51-0 win over the University of Rio Grande, Monday night, in a Mid-South Conference men's wrestling dual at the CU Wrestling Training Center.
     The Phoenix jumped to an immediate lead without ever taking to the mat, thanks to forfeit wins by Truth Vesey and Justin Bradford at 125 pounds and 133 pounds, respectively.
     Jared Dinh followed with a 15-0 technical fall win over Rio freshman Connor Bledsoe (Techumseh, OH) at the 3:53 mark of their 141-pound bout, while Elijah Griffin had a 16-1 technical fall win over freshman Ben Sloan (Ironton, OH) at 2:47 of their 149-pound match.
     Ellis Otting scratched out a 3-1 decision over junior Mackandle Freeman (Point Pleasant, WV) at 157 pounds, while senior Kaylin Foust (Charlotte, NC) was pinned by Eli Clemmons at 2:25 of their 165-pound bout and sophomore Pate Eastin (Granger, IN) dropped an 11-6 decision to Cameron Nesbitt at 174 pounds.
     Rio junior Ashton Simison (Enon, OH) was pinned at the 2:00 mark of his 184-pound matchup with Rocco Horvath and freshman Gary Reno (Hillsboro, OH) lost a 21-6 technical fall decision at 2:41 of his 197-pound match against Tyler Rowland.
     The final match of the evening saw CU's Evan Dixon pin senior Michael Peneski (Port Washington, NY) at 6:59 of their 285-pound match.
     Rio Grande will return to action at the Mid-South Conference Championship Tournament on Friday, Feb. 14 in Bowling Green, Ky.