Flames wrestlers dominate first two dual-meet foes before receiving wakeup call from Life

Saturday, December 13

Gatlinburg, TN

11:00 AM

Liberty University Club Sports

Rocky Top Duals

Matox Allen, Ron Black, Drake Bowers men's wrestlers

Sophomores Matox Allen (from left) and Ron Black finished 2-0 at Saturday's Rocky Top Duals while Drake Bowers did not compete. (Photo by Travis Clayton)

Flames wrestlers dominate first two dual-meet foes before receiving wakeup call from Life

12/13/2025 11:13:00 PM | Men's Wrestling

Two months before traveling to the NCWA National Duals in Utah, Liberty won two out of three matches against NAIA competition at the Rocky Top Duals.

Competing in its first dual meets of the season, Liberty University's men's wrestling team finished 2-1 against some high-level NAIA teams at Saturday's Rocky Top Duals in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

"We were able to gather a lot of good information from the matches and gain a lot of good momentum (into the Winter Break)," Flames first-year Head Coach Chris Williamson said. "It was a good showing overall and a lot of things to be proud of, but a lot of things to continue to work on."

Sophomores Matox Allen — Liberty's only NCWA Grand National champion last spring — and Ron Black won both of their matches at 165 and 184 pounds, respectively, to pace the Flames. Liberty defeated the University of Pikeville (Ky.), 38-12, and Truett McConnell (Ga.) University, 32-11, before falling to Life (Ga.) University, 38-7.

"The guys pretty much dominated the first two matches and then against Life, we really got outmatched physically," Williamson said. "(The Running Eagles) really dictated the pace of the match. It was really good for our guys to see that so they know that's where we've got to get to physically. It was a good wakeup call for us."

Allen's 12-2 major decision over Payton Brooks and Black's 4-2 decision over Gilbert Marquez were the Flames' only wins against Life, a multiple-time runner-up finisher at the NAIA National Championships.

"Matox kind of highlighted the day," Williamson said. "Brodie Altman had a good win against Truett-McConnell and Wayshaun Hicks wrestled well (going 2-1)."

Liberty has two months to prepare for the NCWA National Duals to be hosted by Utah State on Feb. 13-14. The Flames finished third at last season's event in Newport News, Va. They will get their final dual meet experience of the 2025-26 season when they return to action at the Jan. 9-10 Virginia Duals in the Hampton Coliseum, competing in the American College Division.

Liberty 38, Pikeville 12
125: Brandon Didat (P) p. Jalen Fyffe, 4:59; 133: Wayshaun Hicks (L) p. Bryce Looney, 2:41; 141: Sebastian Cambray (L) t.f. Christian Nesby, 15-0, 4:49; 149: Christian Knuckles (L) p. Hayden Canady, 4:31; 157: Antony Saget (L) p. Darrion Evans, 2:00; 165: Matox Allen (L) p. George Lemaster, 2:13; 174: Chase Price (P) d. Josiah Foss, 6-3; 184: Ron Black (L) d. Randall West, 4-0; 197: Payton Lyons (P) d. Carson Meadows, 12-6; 285: Josh Hermann (L) p. Lincoln Griffith, 0:45.

Liberty 32, Truett-McConnell 11
125: Landon Starns (L) p. Tate Thomas, 2:35; 133: Hicks (L) d. Stanley Lal, 4-1; 141: Brodie Altman (L) t.f. Caleb Benton, 16-1, 5:33; 149: Elijah Mullins (T-M) d. Justin Root, 8-7; 157: Saget (L) d. Chase Bond, 10-8; 165: Jordan Scott (L) d. Toby House, 6-2; 174: Miles Mason (T-M) d. Foss, 11-5; 184: Paul Moore (L) p. Christian Anderson, 1:01; 197: Spencer Fields (T-M) t.f. Meadows, 19-4, 5:00; 285: Zachary Kaminski (L) by forfeit.

Life 38, Liberty 7
125: Kolby Dempsey (Life) t.f. Fyffe, 15-0, 2:45; 133: Adrian Morales (Life) m.d. Hicks, 15-3; 141: Ethan Sellers (Life) t.f. Altman, 15-0, 3:00; 149: Cameron Crump (Life) t.f. Knuckles 19-4, 4:58; 157: Jaden New (Life) p. Saget 2:18; 165: Allen (Lib) m.d. Payton Brooks, 12-2; 174: Zion Smith (Life) d. Foss (12-7); 184: Black (Lib) d. Gilbert Marquez, 4-2; 197: Connor Cooper (Life) m.d. Moore, 16-5; 285: Ryan Krimpelbein (Life) p. Braden Ewing, 3:20.