LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The No. 2-ranked Indiana Tech wrestling team started the spring semester with a dominating 27-12 victory over Cumberland University Friday morning at the 2019 NWCA National Duals, presented by the United States Marine Corps and Defense Soap inside Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Expo Center.
The Warriors kicked off the match by winning the first four bouts, with
Sawyer Miller and
Da'Vion Wiliams winning 7-3 and 2-1 at 125 and 141-lbs., respectively, while
Erique Early cruised to an 18-3 tech fall at 133-lbs. Early became the program's all-time career leader in takedowns with 333 as he passed former standout and current assistant coach
LJ Grayson.
Video of Early becoming career takedown leader:
Jonathan Watkins dropped a tough match at 157-lbs., falling 7-6 but
Jacob Gross put the Orange and Black back on track with a 9-1 major decision to make it a 21-3 bout in favor of the Warriors. The Phoenix grabbed victories at 174 and 184-lbs. to cut the deficit to 21-9, but another forfeit from Cumberland at 197-lbs. sealed the win for Tech, who advanced to the National Duals quarterfinals for the fifth consecutive season.
Tech (7-1) will take on No. 13-ranked Southeastern University at 1 p.m. Friday from Freedom Hall in the quarterfinals.
