South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Men's Wrestling All-Conference and Major Awards Announced
HIGH POINT, N.C. – South Atlantic Conference Carolinas announced its inaugural men's wrestling annual awards on Wednesday (Mar. 13) night. Newberry College swept all of the major awards with Isiah Royal being named Wrestler of the Year, ZeBrandon Gant earning Freshman of the Year, while Cy Wainwright collected Coach of the Year. Winning the inaugural Academic Excellence Award is Dalton Flint of Emmanuel College.
Royal, a sophomore from Guyton, Ga., went 29-7 on the season with seven pins and remained ranked in the top-10 nationally all season in the 141 weight class. Royal went undefeated in league matches and notched first-place at the Super Region 2 tournament in the 141 weight class. Royal closed out the season as the runner-up in the 141 weight class at the NCAA Division Wrestling Championships.
Gant, a freshman from Springfield, Ga., went 23-10 on the season with five pins in the 184 weight class. Gant went undefeated in league matches and notched first-place at the Super Region 2 tournament in the 184 weight class.
Wainwright led Newberry to a 12-3 overall duel record, while going 6-0 in conference duals to win the inaugural South Atlantic Conference Carolinas title. Under Wainwright's tutelage, Newberry had seven wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship, with Royal finishing runner-up and two others earning All-America honors. Wainwright would have two wrestlers in Gant and Royal capture Super Region 2 titles.
Flint, a sophomore history education major from Commerce, Ga., sports a 3.824 GPA.
2019 South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Men's Wrestling All-Conference
First Team
Melvin Rubio, Queens (NC) - 125
Timmy Martinez, Newberry - 133
Isiah Royal, Newberry - 141
Matt Rose, Limestone - 149
Austin Palmer, Newberry - 157
Matthew Rodriguez-Kirkland, Limestone - 165
Kody Eichlin, King - 174
Anthony Collins, Limestone - 184
Elijah Seay, King - 197
Patton Gossett, Newberry - 285
Second Team
Austin Neal, Newberry - 125
Sha'mun Smith, Limestone - 133
Troy Gregor, Belmont Abbey - 141
Dalton Flint, Emmanuel - 149
Kevin Almond, Emmanuel - 157
Nick Giantono, Newberry - 165
Garrett Beam, Limestone - 174
Noah Curreri, Queens (NC) - 184
Steve Decius, Limestone - 197
Daniel Bland, Limestone - 285
Wrestler of the Year
Isiah Royal, Newberry
Freshman of the Year
ZeBrandon Gant, Newberry
Coach of the Year
Cy Wainwright, Newberry
Academic Excellence Award
Dalton Flint, Emmanuel