CU moves up seven spots in NAIA Wrestling Poll

Cumberland jumped seven spots to 11th, the team’s highest ranking of the year, in the latest edition of the NAIA Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll, the national office announced Wednesday.

In the individual rankings, five Bulldogs are ranked in their individual weight classes, including Jake Williams (141), Steven Sandefer (149), Michael Gonzalez (157), Zeke Hunt (174) and Cody Linton (184).

The Bulldogs, ranked 18th two weeks ago, defeated then No. 11 the University of the Cumberlands on Tuesday, 23-16, in a home dual match, and posted a 28-9 victory over 20th-ranked Bacone College on January 12 at the Lone Star Duals since the last ranking.

Cumberland improved to 10-9 this season in dual matches, including losses to NCAA Division I Iowa, Virginia and Chattanooga as well as Division II foes Newberry College, Limestone College, UNC-Pembroke and Lindenwood University. The squad has just one loss this season to NAIA competition, versus Lindsey Wilson in early December.

The club has won five consecutive dual matches overall and will wrestle this weekend in the Mustang Open at Central Baptist College in Conway, Ark.

Williams has posted 17-7 mark overall this year, including a second-place showing this past weekend in the Cumberland Open, dropping a 7-4 Decision to Indiana’s Trevor Moody in the finals. The Rio Rancho, N.M., native moved up one spot to No. 4 in the rankings.

Sandefer jumped up five spots to fifth nationally after bulling his way through the CU Open with five victories, including a 7-3 Decision in the semifinals over Chattanooga’s Jared Presley and a 9-4 Decision in the finals versus Chattanooga’s Austin Sams. The Mishawaka, Ind., native has registered a 13-5 mark overall.

Gonzalez has recorded a 13-2 record this year, 8-1 since January, including a loss in the finals (D; 5-3) to Appalachian State’s Dyllan Cottrell. The Hesperia, Calif., native is ranked 15th, his first ranking of the year.

Hunt has been the club’s most consistent performer throughout the season, accumulating a 22-9 mark overall. The Dacula, Ga., native moved up eight spots to No. 4, winning 10 of his last 11 outings, including sweeping four matches in the Cumberland Open with a victory over Lindsey Wilson’s then third-ranked Jameel Bryant in the finals.

Linton has compiled a 16-4 overall record this year, including seven consecutive victories. The Winters, Calif., native moved up three spots to No. 12 in the rankings after winning all three of his matches at the CU Open.