LAKELAND, Fla. – Eleven seniors were honored before the match, and Southeastern University received a commanding 20-point lead with four senior wins and added three more bonus-point wins in a 35-9 wrestling final over No. 15 St. Thomas University tonight at the Fire Pit.
Chris Kelly (149) and Konner Schluckebeier (157) started the SEU night off with early fireworks with first-period pins, before Izac Martinez racked up a tech fall (17-1) in only 2:20 at 165. Trace Braun then secured an 11-5 decision for the 20-0 lead. Senior Noah Winder added a fifth senior victory with a 12-2 major decision in the 285-weight class, while sophomores Gentry Smith (197) and Aaron Lucio (133) rounded out the victories with a fall and a tech fall for the final home points.
SEU moved to 10-2 in dual matches for the season and saw six of its seven wins on the night result in bonus points. The Fire also ran their dual win streak over the Bobcats to seven.
Along with the five winning seniors, Graham Calhoun had a solid showing, but he was edged by Kris Ketchum due to riding time, 4-3, in the 184 bout. At 149, Kelly started the night quickly with a takedown right away and turned it into the first SEU points via fall in 1:54 over Lane Wishart.
Schluckebier rode the momentum into the second match at 157. The SEU veteran recorded a takedown, then a four-point near fall into a fall (2:10) over the Bobcats' Kade Clute and 12-0 team score.
Martinez raced out to the mat and rattled off 17 points in a matter of 2:20 with two takedowns and three near fall combinations, including two of the four-point variety. The grad student finished his tech fall by a 17-1 final over Shemar Barthelus.
After winning the Newberry Open title, Braun fell behind Jeivan Ross early by three points, but he escaped and had his own takedown and 4-3 edge. Braun held a 7-4 advantage into the third where he escaped from the bottom and added his third takedown of the match for what would be an 11-5 decision and commanding, 20-0, SEU lead.
Leading 20-3 after five matches, Smith ended the fourth bout before the first period was over. The second-year Fire grappler pinned Bobcat Jairo Caceres in only 1:38 at 197.
The final SEU senior to wrestle, Winder gained a 6-0 advantage after five minutes, he scored another takedown pair over St. Thomas' Ralph Riche for the 12-2 major decision and sealed the SEU win for the 30-3 score with three matches left.
After a St. Thomas decision win at 125, Lucio recorded the final SEU points. The sophomore took down Jerry Molina three times in the first three minutes and four more occasions in the second on his way to a 21-6 tech fall in 4:39.
Drew Jones (141) fought hard in his bout with the Bobcats' eighth-ranked Thomas Williams. The opponents were scoreless heading to the final period where Williams escaped from the bottom and gained a second point via riding time for a 2-0 decision.
SEU will host its final home dual on Saturday against Keiser University. First match starts at 2 p.m.
SEU 35, St. Thomas 9
149: Chris Kelly (SOEA) over Lane Wishart (STU) (Fall 1:54) – SEU 6-0
157: Konner Schluckebier (SOEA) over Kade Clute (STU) (Fall 2:10) – SEU 12-0
165: Izac Martinez (SOEA) over Shemar Barthelus (STU) (TF 17-1 2:20) -- 17-0
174: Trace Braun (SOEA) over Jeivan Ross (STU) (Dec 11-5) – SEU 20-0
184: Kris Ketchum (STU) over Graham Calhoun (SOEA) (Dec 4-3) – SEU 20-3
197: Gentry Smith (SOEA) over Jairo Caceres (STU) (Fall 1:38) – SEU 26-3
285: Noah Winder (SOEA) over Ralph Riche (STU) (MD 12-2) – SEU 30-3
125: gabriel tellez (STU) over Brodie Christmas (SOEA) (Dec 10-5) – SEU 30-6
133: Aaron Lucio (SOEA) over Jerry Molina (STU) (TF 21-6 4:39) – SEU 35-6
141: Thomas Williams (STU) over Drew Jones (SOEA) (Dec 2-0) – SEU 35-9
