Bulldogs go 0-3 in national duals

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — After getting a last-minute invitational to the NAIA National Dual Meet, No. 11 Cumberland drew No. 3 William & Penn and lost 44-6 last weekend.
Dropping into the consolation round, the Bulldogs wrestled regional foe McKendree (Ill.), ranked No. 12, and went down 25-20 in a match which saw four lead changes.
Cumberland wrapped up with an exhibition match against No. 20 York (Neb.) and dropped a 27-25 decision.
"I think that we are a much better tournament team right now than we are a dual meet team," Cumberland coach Jarad Swint said. "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."
Some individual positives did come out of the weekend.
In the William & Penn match, 184-pound sophomore Luke Borneman pinned Spencer Sharp in 1:03, 149-pound freshman Corey Bleaken lost in double overtime to defending NAIA national runner-up Darren Cotton and 174-pound sophomore Jordan Powers lost 5-3 to No. 2 Abel Trujillo.
Against McKendree, Ohio State-transfer Theo Dotson saw his first varsity action for Cumberland at 149 pounds and defeated former All-American Josh Blackburn 6-3. Blackburn went on to beat No. 2 Dustin Center from University of the Cumberlands.
Bleaken moved up to 157 and technical falled Levi Haugen 17-1 in 6:30. Borneman moved up to 197 and pinned Ben Laux in 4:20.
Against York, Dotson won a major decision 12-4 over Jaltheus Palmerr. Bleaken received a medical forfeit over Weston Fleming. Powers won a 6-2 decision over Trey Jackson, Ben Briscoe won by pin in 1:57 over Bryan Irsik at 197 and 285-pound Xavier Taylor pinned Jamie Brisbin in 1:45.
CU will travel to Williamsburg, Ky., on Thursday to take on No. 5 University of the Cumberlands at 6 p.m. CST. The Bulldogs will host the inaugural Cumberland University Open Tournament at the Dallas Floyd Center on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m.