MONTGOMERY, Ala.— The Montreat College men's wrestling squad traveled to Montgomery, Ala. on Saturday for the Hawk Duals, which were hosted by Huntingdon College, an NCAA Division III institution. Not only did the Cavaliers pick up their first three team dual wins of the campaign to improve to a 3-2 record, but they also set program records for the most points scored and the largest margin of victory in a single team dual.
 
Saturday got off to a stellar start as the Cavs toppled the McMurry University War Hawks by a 54-6 margin. While McMurry claimed six points via a pin in the 125-lb weight class, Montreat rattled off nine consecutive victories to secure its initial team dual triumph of the year. Boedi Kirkland, Josh Mojica-Smith, Donovan Cavender and Johnatan Argueta registered first-round pins over their opposition. Meanwhile, Zeke Grabowski, Louis Mehaffey, Robert Branson, Bryson McCraw and Elijah Amaya-Perez tallied forfeit wins.
 
The Cavaliers' second dual of the afternoon proved to be historic. Montreat crushed the Lyon College Scots, shutting out their foes while racking up 57 points. Fifty-seven doubles as both the most points in a single team dual, as well as the largest margin of victory in a team dual, in program history. Five of the Cavs' wins were of the forfeit variety, while four came via pin. Kirkland, Jack Mathieu, Mojica-Smith and Cavender dominated their competition, and Amaya-Perez seized an 8-6 decision triumph to aid in the one-sided effort.
 
Life University handed Montreat its lone loss of the Hawk Duals, but Kirkland managed to remain undefeated at 149. The freshman from Catawba, N.C. squeezed out a 12-7 decision to get the Cavaliers on the scoreboard. However, the Running Eagles' NCWA team captured the other nine matchups. Life was docked one point from its final team score, but it still garnered a 48-3 win.
 
The Cavs' most competitive dual of the day came during their final showdown. Battling the hosts, Montreat snuck past the Huntingdon College Hawks en route to a 25-21 victory. Five of the initial six clashes went the way of the Cavaliers, including forfeits for Sam Gosnell and Grabowski. Mehaffey and Mathieu picked up major decisions during the competition, and Kirkland closed out his perfect 4-0 showing with a 16-0 tech fall.
 
"I'm proud of the way the guys competed today," said head coach Jim Connaghan. "This is a very special group that's getting better every day. I'm excited to see how we finish out."
 
The Montreat College men's wrestling team is back in action tomorrow at the Hawk Classic Open, hosted by Huntingdon College. Bouts are slated to begin at 10 a.m. EST in Montgomery, Ala.
 
Montreat College 54, McMurry University 6
125: Aaron Micheals (McMurry) over Elijah Pate (Montreat) (Fall 4:20)
133: Zeke Grabowski (Montreat) over Unknown (For.)
141: Louis Mehaffey (Montreat) over Unknown (For.)
149: Boedi Kirkland (Montreat) over Major Watz (McMurry) (Fall 0:52)
157: Robert Branson (Montreat) over Unknown (For.)
165: Bryson McCraw (Montreat) over Unknown (For.)
174: Josh Mojica-Smith (Montreat) over Ruben Perez (McMurry) (Fall 1:32)
184: Donovan Cavender (Montreat) over Thomas Olivarez (McMurry) (Fall 2:15)
197: Elijah Amaya-Perez (Montreat) over Unknown (For.)
285: Johnatan Argueta (Montreat) over Slyder Sedlacek (McMurry) (Fall 2:44)
 
Montreat College 57, Lyon College 0
125: Sam Gosnell (Montreat) over Unknown (For.)
133: Zeke Grabowski (Montreat) over Unknown (For.)
141: Louis Mehaffey (Montreat) over Unknown (For.)
149: Boedi Kirkland (Montreat) over Clay Queen Jr. (Lyon) (Fall 5:36)
157: Robert Branson (Montreat) over Unknown (For.)
165: Jack Mathieu (Montreat) over Donovan Washington (Lyon) (Fall 1:12)
174: Josh Mojica-Smith (Montreat) over Cade Norton (Lyon) (Fall 0:22)
184: Donovan Cavender (Montreat) over Daniel Tackett (Lyon) (Fall 1:49)
197: Elijah Amaya-Perez (Montreat) over Elijah Lupton (Lyon) (Dec 8-6)
285: Grayson Burleson (Montreat) over Unknown (For.)
 
Life University 48*, Montreat College 3
125: Kolby Dempsey (Life) over Sam Gosnell (Montreat) (MD 14-2)
133: Adrian Morales (Life) over Zeke Grabowski (Montreat) (TF 15-0 3:16)
141: Ethan Sellers (Life) over Louis Mehaffey (Montreat) (Fall 3:39)
149: Boedi Kirkland (Montreat) over Camron Crump (Life) (Dec 12-7)
157: Jaden New (Life) over Robert Branson (Montreat) (Fall 0:55)
165: Zion Smith (Life) over Jack Mathieu (Montreat) (Fall 5:23)
174: Diego Barron (Life) over Josh Mojica-Smith (Montreat) (Fall 2:36)
184: Gilbert Marquez (Life) over Donovan Cavender (Montreat) (MD 16-6)
197: Connor Cooper (Life) over Elijah Amaya-Perez (Montreat) (Fall 2:46)
285: Ryan Krimpelbein (Life) over Reese Ferm (Montreat) (Fall 1:12)
*Life University was docked one point from its team score
 
Montreat College 25, Huntingdon College 21
125: Sam Gosnell (Montreat) over Unknown (For.)
133: Zeke Grabowski (Montreat) over Unknown (For.)
141: Louis Mehaffey (Montreat) over Hayden Mason (Huntingdon) (MD 15-2)
149: Boedi Kirkland (Montreat) over Casen Guidry (Huntingdon) (TF 16-0 4:37)
157: Damion Jones (Huntingdon) over Robert Branson (Montreat) (Fall 2:05)
165: Jack Mathieu (Montreat) over Andrew Yeats (Huntingdon) (MD 18-7)
174: Crisjaniel Martinez-Antonetty (Huntingdon) over Josh Mojica-Smith (Montreat) (Dec 9-6)
184: Brock Johnson (Huntingdon) over Donovan Cavender (Montreat) (Dec 9-5)
197: Kevin Shaw (Huntingdon) over Elijah Amaya-Perez (Montreat) (MD 17-3)
285: Steven Flagg (Huntingdon) over Reese Ferm (Montreat) (TF 16-1 7:00)