PEMBROKE, N.C. – Lander University claimed its third straight Conference Carolinas men's wrestling title with a pair of wins at the 2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Wrestling Championship on Sunday.
LANDER def. UNC PEMBROKE 39-(-2) – BOX SCORE
15th-ranked Lander captured their third straight Conference Carolinas Men's Wrestling crown. The Bearcats topped 24th-ranked UNC Pembroke in the championship dual 39-(-2). Lander took a 24-0 lead after six bouts behind a pin from second-ranked David Hunsberger. Maxwell Kiel followed with a 22-6 technical fall win, clinching the title as the Bearcats led 29-0. The Bearcats then won the final three matches to complete the victory for their third straight title.
UNC PEMBROKE def. MONTEVALLO 31-15 – BOX SCORE
East division champion, UNC Pembroke, got off to a solid start with a win by forfeit at 125 pounds before Logan Robinson took an 18-3 technical fall win at 133 pounds to extend the lead to 11-0. Montevallo came back with a Kaden Brown decision and Max Stedeford pin to pull within 11-9. However, the Braves rolled off three straight wins, including a technical fall and a pin to regain a 25-9 advantage. Jackson Buck came up with a pin for the Braves at 197 pounds, clinching the dual victory as the Braves advanced 31-15.
LANDER def. BELMONT ABBEY 43-3 – BOX SCORE
West division champion, Lander jumped out to a 9-0 lead behind a technical fall and major decision at 125 and 133 points, respectively. Following a Belmont Abbey win at 141 pounds, the Bearcats rolled off seven straight wins, including back-to-back pins from Marvelous Rutledge and Isaac Sheeren at 197 and 285 pounds, respectively. The Bearcats advanced to the final with the 43-3 victory.
2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Wrestling Championship
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Builder Services of North Carolina Elite 26 Award
Brady Ross, Belmont Abbey
Lower-Weight Most Outstanding Wrestler
Luke Kunath, Belmont Abbey
Upper-Weight Most Outstanding Wrestler
Jeffery Tubbs, Montevallo
SEMIFINALS
Match 1 – West No.1 Lander 43, East No. 2 Belmont Abbey 3
Match 2 – East No. 1 UNC Pembroke 31, West No. 2 Montevallo 15
FINAL
West No.1 Lander 39, East No. 1 UNC Pembroke -2