DAVIDSON, N.C. — The Bellarmine wrestling team wrapped up its weekend trip to North Carolina on a high note, as the Knights defeated Davidson 27-12 for their first SoCon victory of the season.

Bellarmine (2-2, 1-2 SoCon) fell to the Wildcats (2-5, 1-1 SoCon) in heartbreaking fashion 20-19 last season.  This year, the Knights used a strong start and a pair of pins to earn the conference win.
 
"Scoring bonus points is something we have been training and working diligently for, so it was great to see us start off with a pin from Royce at 197 and follow up with the Division 1 pin leader recording another in Thadd Huff," Knights Head Coach Ned Shuck said.  "Jack scoring bonus and Zac Cowan running the table after a slow start to get a tech fall was impressive as well."
 
Freshman Royce Hall started Bellarmine's scoring pinning Davidson's Gavin Henry (2:35) at 197.  After limited action and several tough matches to start the season, Hall's pin was the first victory of his career.  Fellow freshman Thadd Huff followed with a pin of Oliver Tipton (4:41) at 285.  Huff now leads all DI wrestlers with 13 pins in his 18 total victories.
 
Jack Parker kept Bellarmine going with a 14-6 major decision victory over Hale Robinson at 125, and Michael Schiffhauer followed with a 4-1 win by decision against Noah Burstein at 133.  Trayce Eckman continued the streak for the Knights with a 10-4 win by decision versus Joshua Viarengo at 141, before Zac Cowan added five points with a dominant 26-11 tech fall victory over Noah Frack at 149.  Bellarmine led 27-3 at that point and held on for a 27-12 team victory.
 
Bellarmine continues to make strides, as the Knights have already matched its dual win total and SoCon win total from last season.  
 
"Our guys are wrestling hard right now," Shuck added.  "We just need to keep building on our offensive consistency across all 10 weights in the same dual performance. We are looking forward to striving for that in our next home dual on Jan. 21st. We hope to see everyone out there to cheer our guys on to another victory. Let's Go Knights!"
 
After competing just once at home over the first two months of the season, Bellarmine now returns home for a stretch of four consecutive home duals over three weeks.  BU will take on Queens inside Knights Hall on Jan. 21 at 6:00 p.m.
 
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Bellarmine 27 – Davidson 12      
 
125: Jack Parker (BU) def. Hale Robinson (DAV), 14-6 by major decision
133: Michael Schiffhauer (BU) def. Noah Burstein (DAV), 4-1 by decision
141:  Trayce Eckman (BU)  def. Joshua Viarengo (DAV), 10-4 by decision
149:  Zac Cowan (BU) def. Noah Frack (DAV), Tech Fall (26-11, 5:39)
157:  Marc Koch (DAV) def. Grant O'Dell (BU), 6-0 by decision
165:  Tanner Peake (DAV) def. Cole Nance (BU), SV-1 6-4 by decision
174:  Jaden Hardrick (DAV) def. Devan Hendricks (BU), 5-3 by decision
184:  Anthony Spera (DAV) def. Kennedy Wyatt (BU), SV-1 6-4 by decision
197:  Royce Hall (BU) def. Gavin Henry (DAV), Fall (2:35)
Hwt: Thadd Huff (BU) def. Oliver Tipton (DAV), Fall (4:41)