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Wrestling Hawks unable to hang on against No. 4 Campbellsville
ROME -- Leading by two after six matches, Shorter
University looked poised to potentially pull one of the most
shocking upsets in the NAIA this season.
Recalling its close call with the upstart Hawks earlier this season, Campbellsville University decided to buckle down.
The Tigers, ranked No. 4 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Wrestling Coaches' Poll, used some late-match victories to pull out a 27-13 victory over host Shorter in Mid-South Conference wrestling action at Rome High School.
Shorter got victories from Colby Rinehart at 141, Jesse Miller at 149 and 12th-ranked Raleigh Abbott at 165 to take a 13-11 lead in the competition.
Rinehart pinned Campbellsville's Matt David in 4:11, Miller won by decision, 7-3, over the Tigers' Matt Milton and Abbott, who became Shorter's first-ever ranked competitor earlier in the week when he took over the No. 12 spot at 157 pounds, wrestled up a weight class and still managed a major decision, 9-1, over Campbellsville's Quinten Brooks.
But Campbellsville, which squeaked out a 21-15 victory over Shorter back on Dec. 12 at the Blue Raider Duals hosted by Lindsey Wilson College, earned decisions at 184 and 285, won a major decision at 197 and saw Josh Ashbrook win by fall at 174 to regain control of the competition and ultimately end Shorter's upset bid.
Shorter more than held its own against one of the nation's premier wrestling programs, one that featured four ranked wrestlers in Saturday's competition.
Shorter's next dual meet will take place on Saturday, Jan. 29 when the Hawks travel to St. Andrew's Presbyterian for a 12 p.m. match.
Complete Results
125: #4 Johnny Papesh (CU) WBTF Adam Perdue (SU), 16-0
133: #5 Tyler Aslip (CU) decision over Nate Galloway (SU), 8-4
141: Colby Rinehart (SU) WBF Matt David (CU), 4:11
149: Jesse Miller (SU) decision over Matt Milton (CU), 7-3
157: Conor Young (CU) decision over Robbie Collum (SU), 6-4
165: #12 Raleight Abbott (SU) major decision over Quinten Brooks (CU), 9-1
174: #9 Josh Ashbrook (CU) WBF Josh Cook (SU), 2:57
184: Allen Scruggs (CU) decision over Gunny Hoyt (SU), 6-1
197: #5 Spencer Adams (CU) major decision over Joe Hinchman (SU), 15-4
285: Chris Daniels (CU) decision over Alex McGhee (SU), 4-1
