FAIRMONT, W.Va. (Feb. 4) – The Saint Vincent College wrestling team extended its dual match winning streak to three with a 33-20 road victory over Division-II Fairmont State University.
 
All six of Saint Vincent's wins came via bonus points, as the Bearcats have now won four of their past five matches to wrap up their dual match schedule with a 5-7 record.
 
For the fourth time in as many matches, rookie Sean Cain staked the Bearcats out to an early lead, beating the buzzer to pin Brandan Myers with eight seconds left in the first period. Cain's 13th win of the season, and third by fall, put the Bearcats in front, 6-0.
 
In the 133-pound match, SVC's Kyle McCollum and FSU's Austin Brett were deadlocked at 4-4 with a minute left in the first period, before McCollum took over, scoring 15 straight points to record a 19-4 technical fall in 5:26 and give SVC an 11-0 lead.
 
Fairmont State earned wins at 141 and 149 to cut the deficit to 11-9, before SVC 157-pounder Charlie Mesich turned in a dominating performance, needing just 25 seconds to pin Esdras Castillo and increase the Bearcat margin to 17-9. It marked Mesich's fifth pin of the season, and the second straight match in which he recorded a fall in fewer than 45 seconds.
 
At 165 pounds, Chase Brandebura earned his fifth straight bonus-point win with a 19-10 major decision over Elijah Wellings-Osha to up the SVC lead to 21-9.  
 
The Falcons earned five points with a technical fall at 174 pounds to make it 21-14, but freshman Logan Bechtold recorded his second pin of the season at 184 pounds, dispatching Tristan Ice in 6:11.
 
Farimont State cut the deficit to 27-20 with a pin at 197 pounds, but SVC heavyweight Jake Beistel closed out the afternoon with a forfeit win to improve to 10-1 and seal the 33-20 victory.
 
In exhibition action, the Bearcats' 133-pounder Ryan Yocum picked up his third consecutive win with a pin in 1:34, his second straight win by fall.
 
The Bearcats will now set their sights on championship season, and will return to action on Friday, Feb. 16, at the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championships hosted by Washington & Jefferson College.