Cobras Take Down King, Finish 1-1 in Tri-Match

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker wrestling team took down regionally ranked No. 10 King University, 23-15, to go 1-1 on Saturday (Jan. 11) at its tri-match against King and Brewton-Parker. After the matches the Cobras are now 5-2 in dual matches. 

In their first match of the day the Cobras lost 19-18 to Brewton-Parker on criteria. At the end of the 10 matches the Cobras and the Barons were deadlocked at 18 points each. The match was decided by criteria and based on match points, Brewton-Parker took home the win.

Coker jumped out to an early 6-0 lead with decisions by Mikel Nelson and Charlie Huff at 125-pound and 133-pound divisions, respectively. The Barons tied the match at six with a pin at the 141-pound division, but Coker bounced back with a pin by Kevin Thompson at the149-pound division, taking a 12-6 lead. A 6-3 decision by JD Dykes put Coker on top 15-6.

Brewton-Parker rattled off four straight decisions to take an 18-15 lead heading to the final match of the day. In the 285-pound match Austin Akins scored a point with only four seconds left in the match to secure win and tie the match at 18. With the match tied at 18, point criteria was the deciding factor in determining the winner. The Barons held a 47-36 match point advantage, giving them the victory.

After King defeated Brewton-Parker 27-14, the Tornado and the Cobras took the mat for the final match of the day. 

Gavin Perkins opened the match with a 4-2 win at the 125-pound division. King evened the score at three with a 3-1 overtime win at the 133-pound division, but the Cobras quickly regained the lead with a pair of major decisions by Rashad Cunningham and Kevin Thompson at the 141-pound and 149-pound divisions, respectively.  A 5-3 decision by JD Dykes at the 157-pound division put Coker on top 12-3. A Tornado pin at the 165-pound division cut the Cobra lead to just three, but thanks to a 9-7 decision by Zach Dicus at the 174-pound division the Coker had a little breathing room.

Shane Carpenter secured the Cobra victory with an impressive pin in overtime at the 184-pound division. Coker went on to win 23-15.

The Cobras will be back in action on Thursday (Jan. 16) against UNC Pembroke at home. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Coker’s Timberlake-Lawton Gymnasium.