BELMONT, N.C. – Davidson’s wrestling team picked up a much-needed and hard-fought victory over Belmont Abbey on Saturday afternoon at the Wheeler Center, 20-19.
With Davidson heading into the final bout up 20-16, heavyweight Michael Moore fell in a major decision, 14-3, that tied it up at 20-all, but his opponent was handed an unsportsmanlike deduction, handing the Wildcats a victory.
Davidson got off to a fast start with sophomore Camden Bertucci and junior Dustin Runzo picking up seven points. Bertucci took care of business at 125 pounds with a 14-3 major decision, his second consecutive victory.
Runzo’s match went down to the wire, as the 133-pounder earned two takedown points in the final 23 seconds of the final period to snare a 2-1 decision.
Belmont Abbey responded, taking the next four weight classes for a commanding 16-7 lead.
Freshman Conor Fenn got things rolling again for the ‘Cats at 174 pounds, recording his fourth fall of the year in 2:17. The fall propelled Davidson, which went on to take the next two bouts. Konner Pritchard survived a 6-5 decision at 184 pounds, while Ryan Devlin picked up a 17-7 major at 197 pounds.
The Wildcats return home for a weekend set beginning on Friday, Feb. 10, with Southern Conference foe VMI. Davidson finishes the weekend with a conference match against Gardner-Webb on Sunday, Feb. 12. Both matches are slated to start at 7 p.m. from Belk Arena.
Davidson 20, Belmont Abbey 19
125: Camden Bertucci (DC) maj. dec. over Michael Bedard (BAC), 14-3
133: Dustin Runzo (DC) dec. over Nick Lukanich (BAC), 2-1
141: Troy Gregory (BAC) dec. over Hunter Costa (DC), 3-2
149: Santonio Thompson (BAC) maj. dec. over Aidan Conroy (DC), 18-10
157: Greg Hilliard (BAC) fall over Billy McClelland (DC), 1:11
164: John Glunt (BAC) dec. over Noah Satterfield (DC), 10-5
174: Conor Fenn (DC) fall over Seth Bridgeman (BAC), 2:17
184: Konner Pritchard (DC) dec. over Tyler Maclaine (BAC), 6-5
197: Ryan Devlin (DC) maj. dec. over Brian Girard (BAC), 17-7
HWT: Chass Delgado (BAC) maj. dec. over Michael Moore (DC), 14-3
*Unsportsmanlike at 285 deducted a point from Belmont Abbey