GREENWOOD, S.C. – The University of Montevallo wrestling team finished the regular season portion of the Conference Carolinas schedule with losses to Emmanuel and No. 2 Lander.
The Falcons totaled 15 points in the opening dual to Emmanuel but added just three against defending national runner-up Lander.
No. 1 Gabe Hixenbaugh earned two wins on the night and is now 24-0 on the year.
Carson Freeman,
Savian Graham and
Noah Todd each also added wins for Montevallo, Tuesday.
The loss to Emmanuel marked the first time this season that Montevallo has lost when scoring 15 or more points.
With the losses, Montevallo has been eliminated from a spot in the Conference Carolinas Championship semifinals.
UM will face one more Conference Carolinas before regionals, on Feb. 17. Once the conference season ends, Montevallo's opponent will be determined. UM will match up with a team from the East Division in the same spot of the final divisional standings.
Match Information
WHO: Emmanuel
WHERE: Greenwood, S.C.
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 6
RESULTS: Montevallo (6-6, 4-3 CC, 3-1 Div.) 15, Emmanuel (5-5, 3-5 CC, 3-2 Div.) 30
Montevallo fell behind after the 125 matches, 6-0, but No. 1 Gabe Hixenabugh's (23-0) ninth tech fall win of the year, 21-4 over Eli Holton, in the 133 class, earned five points for the Falcons. Hixenbaugh brought his record to 23-0 overall on the year and 9-0 in dual matches. He has now tallied 47 total dual points in 2023-24.
Following Hixenbaugh's win, the Falcons dropped the next two matches but returned to the win collum when
Carson Freeman (18-11) topped Gage Shetly in the 157 match. Freeman, a freshman from Alabaster, Alabama fought from behind to narrowly win by decision, 17-16, and earn three points for UM.
Emmanuel added wins at 165 and 174 to jump ahead of Montevallo 25-8.
Savian Graham (9-6) responded with his first dual win of the year over Cooper Bachman, by a major decision, 9-0, in the 184 match.
Noah Todd (15-11) closed out the dual with a decision win to tally UM's final three points.
Individual Highlights
- No. 1 Gabe Hixenbaugh improved to 23-0 overall with his ninth dual win and ninth tech fall after defeating Emmanuel's Eli Holton, 21-4.
- Carson Freeman notched his 18th win of the year, by decision, in come-from-behind fashion, 17-16, over Gage Shetly.
- Savian Graham turned in an impressive 9-0 major decision win against Cooper Bachman for his ninth of the year.
- Noah Todd closed the match with a 9-3 decision win over Anthony Olea for his 15th.
Team Highlights
- The loss against Emmanuel marked the first time this season UM has lost a dual when scoring 15 or more points.
- UM won in four of the 10 total matches but five of Emmanuel's six wins were by tech fall or fall.
Match Information
WHO: No. 2 Lander
WHERE: Greenwood, S.C.
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 6
RESULTS: No. 22 Montevallo (6-6, 4-3 CC, 3-1 Div.) vs. No. 2 Lander (13-3, 8-0 CC, 4-0 Div.)
Montevallo fell to No. 2 and defending national runner-up, Lander, 48-3 in the final Conference Carolina dual of the year.
Lander features a ranked wrestler in each weight class while the Falcons hold the No. 1 spot at 133 with Gabe Hixenbaugh.
Hixenbaugh tallied the lone win for UM in the dual as he topped No. 8 Ellijah Lusk by decision, 4-2. This is Hixenbaugh's second win over Lusk this year.
With just one dual remaining in the regular season and regionals on the horizon, Hixenbaugh is 24-0, 10-0 in duals and 9-0 in ranked He has totaled 50 dual points, four major decisions, nine tech falls and four pins.
Individual Highlights
- No. 1 Gabe Hixenbaugh won his 24th bout of the year, including is his ninth ranked win, by decision, 4-2.
- Carson Freeman battled No. 17 Jack Tangen in the 157 match but fell short by decision, 14-7.
Team Highlights
- Montevallo faced an all-ranked lineup against Lander and earned one win.
UP NEXT: The Falcons will return home to take on Huntingdon College for their last home dual of the regular season on Tuesday, Jan. 30 starting at 7 p.m. CT.
