Bulldogs remain 11th; five wrestlers ranked individually

Cumberland remained 11th nationally in the latest edition of the NAIA Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll and Jake Williams, Steven Sandefer and Zeke Hunt are all ranked fourth in their individual weight class, the national office announced Wednesday.

The Bulldogs defeated St. Andrews College, 33-21, on Jan. 31 in their only dual match since the last rankings on Jan. 24. CU will take on No. 5 Campbellsville today in Campbellsville, Ky., in the team’s final dual match of the year.

Williams has compiled a 22-8 mark this academic year at 141 with victories in eight of his last 11 matches (with two of those losses to NCAA Division I opponents). The redshirt sophomore from Rio Rancho, N.M., finished 3-2 in last weekend’s Newberry Open.

Sandefer moved up one spot to fourth at 149 after placing second at the Newberry Open, losing in the finals to Chattanooga’s Austin Sams. The junior from Mishawaka, Ind., won 12 consecutive matches before the loss to Sams.

Hunt has registered a team-high 28 wins (against 10 losses) this year at 174 with victories in 15 of his last 17 outings, including a 1-0 Decision over then Lindsey Wilson’s third-ranked Jameel Bryant. The junior from Dacula, Ga., finished third at the Newberry Open and has individual titles this year in two other tournaments.

Sophomore Michael Gonzalez is also ranked eighth at 157 for the Bulldogs, posting wins in 15 of his 18 matches this semester. The Hesperia, Calif., native has split outings with Bacone College’s Arnol Arroliga and lost in the finals at Newberry to Gardner-Webb’s Kyle Ash.

Sophomore Cody Linton is the other CU grappler in the rankings, checking in at 11th at 184. The Winters, Calif., native has posted a 13-3 overall mark. He has won eight consecutive outings with a pin of Denzel Leggett from St. Andrews last week.