NEWBERRY, S.C -- A group of Lindsey Wilson College wrestlers competed at the Newberry College Open in the last regular-season opportunity to claim some wins in open competition before the NAIA Regional Championships on Feb. 18.

Jacob McCombs was the highlight of the day for Lindsey Wilson, placing second at 133 pounds to qualify for the NAIA National Championships. McCombs won his first match by an 18-3 technical fall in 4:30 against Blue Raider Leo Hardy, followed by a 2-0 decision in the semifinals against Limestone's Michael Hellman. McCombs day came to an end in the final as he was forced to take an injury default, but the blow was lessened with the nationals qualification already wrapped up.

Andrew Hairston also lost in the first round at 184 pounds and like McKeeth, was able to come back for a win in consolations. Hairston dominated Demtre Liquori from Limestone 9-1 and then beat Patrick Blankenbaker 10-5. Hairston's run came to an end with a pin by Luke Johnson that would have propelled him to the third-place match.

Keeping up a similar trend, Michael Jacobson was beat in the championship bracket at 197 pounds before turning in some strong showings in wrestle backs.

Jacobson beat Shorter's (Ga.) Alex McGhee by pin in 2:39 to open consolations, followed by beating Trenton Kulmer – wrestling unattached for Lindsey Wilson – 6-0. Jacobson was eliminated by Newberry's Joe Grisco who pinned him in 2:43.

Teddy Furnish and Jonathan Hupp both appeared in the heavyweight bracket for Lindsey Wilson.

Furnish won his first match 6-0 against Newberry's Marquis Porterfield before losing to Pembroke's James DeLaRiva 2-1 in the second round. Furnish's run ended in wrestle backs after taking an injury default.

Hupp won twice in the championship bracker, topping Newberry's Matt Colter by pin in 5:12, followed by a 7-5 decision against Belmont Abby's Will Robinson. It was DeLaRive who finally beat Hupp 5-2 to advance to the first-place match.

Hupp just missed out on placing as he lost his first consolation match,  being pinned in 16 seconds by Newberry's Matt Wade.

Regional competition kicks off at 9 a.m. CT on Feb. 18 and is hosted by the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) in Williamsburg, Ky.

Results