Life University Athletics

MARIETTA, Ga. ---- The No. 2 nationally ranked Life University men's wrestling team picked up a pair of home Mid-South Conference dual wins Saturday and Sunday to stay unblemished in MSC action.

The Running Eagles started the weekend with a 48-3 victory over St. Thomas University. The Running Eagles lost just one match in the dual, as Alexander Clark started things off with a 14-5 major decision at 165 lbs. Tyler Brandt then picked up the fall in 5:51 at 174 lbs. as the Bobcats earned their lone win of the dual at 184 lbs. Tony Rogers bounced back with a fall in 58 seconds as Spencer Dacus earned the win via pin in 12 seconds. Brandon Orum continued his winning ways with a 23-7 technical fall at 125 lbs. as Hunter Sparks won via forfeit. Julian Hernandez earned the 4-2 decision at 141 lbs. as Denver Stonecheck won via stall out at 149 lbs. for six additional team points. Steven Villalobos finished the dual at 157 lbs. with a pin in 6:32 to seal the victory. 

A handful of men's wrestlers traveled to Appalachian State for the Appalachian Open on Saturday as well.  285 - JJ Perez - 1-1, William Abbott (unattached)0-2

Sunday afternoon, the Running Eagles welcomed No. 11 Cumberland University with a handful of ranked matches. Cumberland won the first match on a 4-3 decision as No. 2 Zane Lanham earned the pin in 3:51 at 197 lbs. Cumberland answered back with a 2-1 decision at heaveyweight to tie the dual at six. No. 2 Orum earned the 10-6 decision over the No. 9 ranked wrestler at 125 lbs. as Jacob Ruiz picked up the upset over the No. 10 ranked wrestler in a 7-0 decision at 133 lbs. to give Life U the 12-5 lead. No. 8 Hernandez picked up the 16-8 major decision at 141 lbs. as No. 2 Stonecheck picked up the fall in 5:44 at 149 lbs. Cumberland picked up a pin at 157 lbs. to bring the score to 22-11 as a tight 3-2 decision went in favor of the Phoenix at 165 lbs. No. 4 Asher Eichert finished the dual with a 16-3 major decision for the final score of 26-14. 

The men's wrestling team will return to action on Saturday, February 4, when they continue MSC action and travel to Lakeland, Fla. to face No. 3 Southeastern University in a dual.

Head coach Omi Acosta shared his thoughts on the weekend below: