Shirley wins three times at Newberry

NEWBERRY, S.C. — Jacob Shirley won three times and Shane Brown and Tyler Smith each posted a pair of victories, leading the Cumberland wrestling team Saturday at the Newberry Duals.

The Bulldogs (5-8) lost all four dual matches, all against NCAA Division II competition, but picked up 10 individual victories. CU forfeited at 125 and 133 in all four matches, setting the club back even before it got started.

Shirley pinned UNC-Pembroke’s Jordan Ford at 4:49 at 165 in CU’s second match of the day, a 39-12 loss to the 20th-ranked Braves. The Cumberland redshirt junior posted an 11-1 Major Decision against Lindenwood University’s Steve Kemp in a 30-17 loss to the Lions and then pinned Limestone College’s Ryan Buchanan at 2:56 in a 31-15 defeat versus the Saints.

Brown pinned Pembroke’s Richard Kerekes at 4:48 at 157 and won a 10-0 Major Decision against Lindenwood’s Mason Ridenhour. He also lost a 10-3 Decision to Newberry College’s Taylor Knapp and a 4-3 Decision against Limestone’s Jeremy Bommarito.

Smith pinned Lindenwood’s Josh Carlyle at 1:28 and won a 9-6 Decision versus Limestone’s Aaron Rowe in the heavyweight class. Jake Williams, Zeke Hunt and Aric Fernandez each registered one victory on the day.

Cumberland will face Middle Tennessee in a dual match in Hendersonville on Saturday before breaking for the holidays.