Cobras Travel North to Take on Midwest Classic

By: Jake Miller

HARTSVILLE, S.C.- The Coker wrestling team will travel to Indianapolis to compete in the Midwest Classic beginning tomorrow (Dec. 17) and going through Sunday (Dec. 18).

Last year's team finished 17^th and had Charlie Huff (125, 7^th), Derrick Nelson (133, 8^th) and Jordon Tague (149, 6^th) place within their weight classes.

Coker's last action came last Wednesday (Dec. 7) in the second annual Art Meets Art dual where Belmont Abbey defeated the Cobras 22-18. Both the Cobras and Crusaders won five matches each, but two pins from Belmont Abbey proved to be the difference in the dual. After dropping the first two matches, the Cobras received a gutsy performance from Rashad Cunningham with an 11-5 decision over John Glunt. Jamal Lackey fed off the momentum at 174 pounds with a first period fall over Tyler Maclaine by way of a cradle. Next, the Cobras dropped the 184 pound bout by fall. Trailing 16-9, freshman Marco Mason grinded out a crucial 1-0 decision over Brian Girard. Mason earned a one point escape in the second period and rode tough on top during the third period for the victory. The Cobras fell by decision in the 285 pound weight class, but responded with tight decisions in the 125 and 133 pound weight classes. Frank Velez earned a 5-4 decision at 125 pounds and John Smith toughed out a hard fought 6-2 decision at 133 pounds to tighten the score to 19-18 in favor of Belmont Abbey. The Crusaders took the final bout of the night at 141 pounds for the 22-18 victory.

The action begins at 9:00 a.m.