Jaden Sonner seals NWCA opening round win over Cumberland with late pin

The third-ranked Tigers now wrestle No. 15 Life University at 3 p.m. ET at Freedom Hall

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 2020 NWCA National Duals got underway and No. 3 Tigers took care of business against Mid-South Conference foe Cumberland University in the opening round with a 28-10 win.

The Tigers earned pins from No. 2 Marvin Galette at 133 pounds and Jaden Sonnor at 197 pounds – both were turning points of the match.

Galette set the tone early and gave the Tigers a 9-0 lead after just two matches, as No. 8 Jordan Martinez started things off with a 1-0 decision over Carter Cox. Galette then led in the second period before taking down Dylan Burton in 4:43.

Like Martinez, No. 1 Dayton Marvel earned a point after a reversal and held on to win 1-0 over Keshawn Laws at 141 pounds. With the Tigers leading 12-0 after three matches, Cumberland earned its first points of the day with a major decision over Luke Story, 13-5.

Then it was No. 18 Tristan Sellmer and No. 12 Chandler Woekner giving Campbellsville a comfortable lead – one it would need heading into the final four matches. Sellmer earned a 9-0 major decision before Woenker won 8-2 to give Campbellsville a 19-4 match lead.

No. 18 Mahlic Sallah lost a tough match to No. 5 Nathan Walton after falling behind with a one-point reversal and losing, 1-0, at 174 pounds. Then Cumberland got back into the match with a 5-2 decision over No. 18 David Richardson at 184 pounds.

But it was Sonner sealing it for the Tigers. Wrestling up a weight class, Sonner used a second-period pin over Antonio Marisal at 197 pounds handing CU the victory.

No. 5 Ashton Mutuwa wrestled with the Tigers' win already in the bag and earned a 1-0 decision.

Campbellsville will now wrestle another conference foe No. 15 Life University at 3 p.m. ET at Freedom Hall's Mat 3. The Running Eagles upset No. 4 University of the Cumberlands, 30-16, earlier this morning.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Marvin Galette: Senior; Rock Hill, S.C.

Jordan Martinez: Junior; Maple Valley, Wash.

Ashton Mutuwa: Senior; Cedar Lake, Ind.

David Richardson: Sophomore; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Mahlic Sallah: Sophomore; Roanoke, Va.

Tristan Sellmer: Sophomore; Jeffersonville, Ind.

Luke Story: Redshirt Freshman; Johnson City, Tenn.

Dayton Marvel: Sophomore; Arvada, Colo.

Players Mentioned

Marvin Galette
: Senior; Rock Hill, S.C.

Jordan Martinez
: Junior; Maple Valley, Wash.

Ashton Mutuwa
: Senior; Cedar Lake, Ind.

David Richardson
: Sophomore; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Mahlic Sallah
: Sophomore; Roanoke, Va.

Tristan Sellmer
: Sophomore; Jeffersonville, Ind.

Luke Story
: Redshirt Freshman; Johnson City, Tenn.

Dayton Marvel
: Sophomore; Arvada, Colo.