DURHAM, N.C. – The Presbyterian College men's wrestling team had their hands full on Sunday evening as they traveled to Durham to take on a very talented Blue Devils team, along with two nationally ranked wrestlers. The Blue Hose showed heart and toughness, but the final score would go in favor of Duke, 30-7.
The match started at 184 lbs where
David Bertrand was able to put Presbyterian ahead. The freshman scored a takedown in the second period as the score was knotted 2-2 after two. Bertrand earned an escape point and a late takedown to get the decision win, 5-2, and give the Blue Hose the lead, 3-0.
Aiden Jean was next at 197 lbs, but Jean had trouble with Duke's Kaden Russell as Russell won by technical fall in the second period. The heavyweights were up next as
Airin Spell and Jonah Niesenbaum went at it at 285 lbs. Spell scored an escape point and a late point for pushing his opponent off the mat, but it was not enough as Duke added to their early lead, 8-3.
The match went back to lightweights with
Jacob Brasseur at 125 lbs. Brasseur had to escape some early takedowns and scored a takedown of his own in the third period, but his late rally came up short with the Blue Devils earning a 14-7 decision. 133 lbs was next as
Dominic Chavez shot out of a cannon early on, leading after the first period 8-0. Chavez scored a takedown in the second period and an escape in the third to earn a major decision win, 12-1, to score four points and make the team score 11-7 in favor of Duke.
Khalid Brinkley and Patrick Rowland competed next at 141 lbs as Brinkley struggled to get off the mat with Rowland controlling most of the riding time. Brinkley earned a late takedown, but that was all he could muster up as he fell 4-2.
A heavily anticipated match at 149 with
Reid Stewart and #9 Josh Finesilver was next. Stewart was able to hold his own only being down 2-0 going into the third period. An escape from Stewart saw him score a point, but that was all as Finesilver earned an extra point on riding time and increased the Blue Devils lead. Talented freshman
Logan Spell was next up for the Blue Hose at 157 lbs, but the Tennessee native could never get a good grip on his opponent for a takedown and lost by major decision.
Bryton Goering saw his first action of the year at 165 lbs but was overmatched by Gabe Dinette as Duke scored another major decision. The final team match came with
Zachary Phillips going up against #8 Matt Finesilver. Phillips was able to fight out of two near pinfalls in period one, but the undefeated Finesilver was too much to handle as a technical fall was scored to end the bout.
Bertrand and [Airin] Spell were defeated in extra matches, but Brasseur won by major decision, 11-1.
