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Rio Grande's Mackandle Freeman (left) and Pate Eastin (right) both picked up three wins for the RedStorm during Saturday's Smoky Mountain Duals in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Rio Grande's Mackandle Freeman (left) and Pate Eastin (right) both picked up three wins for the RedStorm during Saturday's Smoky Mountain Duals in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Posted: Dec 14, 2024

RedStorm men swept in Smoky Mountain Duals

Rio Grande Sports Information
     GATLINBURG, Tenn. - The University of Rio Grande men's wrestling team came up short in all four of its outings in Saturday's Smoky Mountain Duals at Rocky Top Sports World.
     The RedStorm dropped a 34-22 decision to Brewton-Parker (Ga.), while also falling to No. 10 Reinhardt (Ga.) University (49-6), Keiser (Fla.) University (36-20) and No. 31 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College (45-8).
     Against Brewton-Parker, the RedStorm trailed just 23-22 after junior Justin Bartee (Point Pleasant, WV) pinned Thomas Crawford at 6:44 of their 184-pound bout, but the Barons took each of the last two matches to seal the victory.
     Rio's other wins against Brewton-Parker came from freshman Conner Blessing (Point Pleasant, WV) with a 9-0 major decision over Keyshaun Taylor at 141 pounds, junior Mackandle Freeman's (Point Pleasant, WV) pin of Conner Wright at 1:26 of their 157-pound match and senior Mitchell Freeman's (Point Pleasant, WV) win by fall over Gailan Wilds at 1:37 of their 165-pound showdown.
     Sophomore Pate Eastin (Granger, IN) notched the RedStorm's only win against Reinhardt, defeating Wyatt Higgins by fall at 4:25 in 174-pound division.
     Eastin also got one of Rio's two victories against Lindsey Wilson, upending Jostyn Zayas by technical fall, 19-3, at 4:35.
     Mackandle Freeman had the other triumph against the Blue Raiders, recorded a 6-0 decision over Brandon Irigoyen at 157 pounds.
     As was the case against Brewton-Parker, the RedStorm were also close with Keiser after Bartee's technical fall win (24-8, 5:39) over Viliam Piekh sliced the Seahawks lead to 24-20.
     However, Keiser picked up wins by fall in each of the final two matches to wrap up the win.
     Rio's other wins versus the Seahawks came from Blessing by forfeit at 141 pounds; Mackandle Freeman, who earned a 4-1 decision over Phillip Antico at 157 pounds; and Eastin, who pinned Shane Brakke at 2:22 of their 174-pound match.
     The RedStorm is scheduled to return to action Thursday and Friday at the NAIA Invitational hosted by the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Ky.