LEBANON, Tenn. – Steven Sandefer and Jacob Shirley each pinned their opponents in the opening three matches but 11th-ranked Cumberland was unable to sustain the momentum, eventually dropping a 22-18 decision to No. 5 Campbellsville University on Friday night in Campbellsville, Ky.
Sandefer, ranked fourth nationally at 149, started the match with a win by Fall at 4:36 over Shawn McGhee, but Campbellsville’s top-ranked Conor Young followed with a 10-4 Decision against No. 8 Michael Gonzalez at 157. Shirley gave the Bulldogs a 12-3 lead in the dual standings with a pin of Joe Whalen at 1:18 at 165 and Zeke Hunt, ranked fourth in the country, added to the advantage with a 3-0 Decision over Michael Johnson at 174.
But Campbellsville responded with five consecutive victories, including three straight wins by Decision starting at 184 when Josh Ashbrook, ranked third nationally, defeated No. 11 Cody Linton, 5-3. Allen Scruggs, also ranked third in the nation, posted a 6-2 triumph against Aric Fernandez at 197 and Terrell Moore won the heavyweight class, 11-7, over Tyler Smith, cutting the Bulldog lead to 15-12.
Jarvis Elam put the Tigers ahead for good with a 14-4 Major Decision over Richard Williams at 125 before Tyler Alsip, ranked seventh at 133, clinched the match for Campbellsville with a pin of Nick Paden at 4:32. Cumberland’s Jake Williams, ranked No. 4 in the country, won a 6-3 Decision over Brandon Westerman at 141 in the final match of the dual.
Cumberland will next participate in the NAIA East Region Qualifier on February 16 in Laurinburg, N.C.
#5 Campbellsville 22, #11 Cumberland Univ. 18
| Wt. Class | Winner | Loser | Type;Score | CU | CAMP |
| 149 | #4 Steven Sandefer (CU) | Shawn McGhee (CAMP) | F; 4:36 | 6 | 0 |
| 157 | #1 Conor Young (CAMP) | #8 Michael Gonzalez (CU) | D; 10-4 | 6 | 3 |
| 165 | Jacob Shirley (CU) | Joe Whalen (CAMP) | F; 1:58 | 12 | 3 |
| 174 | #4 Zeke Hunt (CU) | Michael Johnson (CAMP) | D; 3-0 | 15 | 3 |
| 184 | #3 Josh Ashbrook (CAMP) | #11 Cody Linton (CU) | D; 5-3 | 15 | 6 |
| 197 | Allen Scruggs (CAMP) | Aric Fernandez (CU) | D; 6-2 | 15 | 9 |
| 285 | Terrell Moore (CAMP) | Tyler Smith (CU) | D; 11-7 | 15 | 12 |
| 125 | Jarvis Elam (CAMP) | Richard Williams (CU) | MD; 14-4 | 15 | 16 |
| 133 | #7 Tyler Alsip (CAMP) | Nick Paden (CU) | F; 4:32 | 15 | 22 |
| 141 | #4 Jake Williams (CU) | Brandon Westerman (CAMP) | D; 6-3 | 18 | 21 |
D - Decision
MD - Major Decision
TF - Technical Fall
F - Fall
FOR - Forfeit
MFOR - Medical Forfeit
