After getting a last-minute invitation to the National Dual Meet Tournament, the 11th-ranked Bulldogs drew No. 3 seed William and Penn (ranked third in the NAIA National Poll) and lost 6-44. Cumberland then dropped into consolation and wrestled regional foe McKendree College, Illinois. McKendree (ranked 12th in the NAIA National Poll) took Cumberland down 20-25 in a match that saw four lead changes. Cumberland then wrestled an exhibition match against York College, Nebraska (ranked 20th in the NAIA National Poll), losing 25-27.
Some positives did come out of the weekend through individual accomplishments. In the William and Penn match, sophomore Luke Borneman at 184 pinned Spencer Sharp in 1:03; freshman Corey Bleaken at 149 lost in double-overtime to last year's NAIA National Runner-up Darren Cotton; and sophomore Jordan Powers at 174 lost a close 5-3 to Abel Trujillo, who is currently ranked second in the NAIA National Poll. Against McKendree College, Ohio State University transfer junior Theo Dotson saw his first varsity action at 149 for Cumberland. Dotson defeated former All-American Josh Blackburn, 6-3. Blackburn went on to defeat the No. 2 ranked 149 Dustin Center from the University of the Cumberlands. Bleaken moved up to 197 and pinned Ben Laux in 4:20. In the exhibition match against York, Dotson got a major decision 12-4 over Jaltheus Palmer. At 157, Bleaken received a medical forfeit over Weston Fleming; Powers won a 6-2 decision over Trey Jackson; Ben Briscoe at 197 won by pin in 1:57 over Bryan Irsik; and Xavier Taylor at 285 pinned Jamie Brisbin in 1:45.
Head Coach Jarad Swint said, "I think that we are a much better tournament team right now than we are a dual meet team. I am looking forward to having everyone healthy. The future of this young team looks really good with freshmen and sophomores starting at every weight class right now."
Cumberland University Wrestling will be in action this Thursday, Jan. 18 against University of the Cumberlands (ranked fifth in the NAIA National Poll) in Williamsburg, Kentucky at 7 p.m. EST. Then, on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 9 a.m., CU will host the first-ever Cumberland University Open tournament.