BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell wrestling continued their winning ways with a 29-10 victory over Bellarmine Friday evening at Gore Arena.

The Fighting Camels improved to 3-0 in SoCon duals and 4-7 overall, while the Knights started their conference slate 0-1 (1-2 overall).

Anthony Molton and Landon Sargent continued to be effective bookends in the Camel lineup. Each recorded their third bonus-point win in the third consecutive SoCon match.

Molton scored his third-straight tech fall to give the Camels an early lead, defeating Damion Ryan 23-7 just 16 seconds into the second period. The result is his team-leading sixth tech fall of the year.

Sargent recorded his second fall victory, pinning Will Muckler in the first period (1:42) to improve to 3-0 in conference bouts (two pins, one major decision). The freshman from Fayetteville now leads the team in pins, owning five at this point in the season.

Chris Earnest added a pin of his own at 157 pounds as the third bonus-point win on the night for the Camels. His pin in the second period against Jeb Prechtel extended Campbell's lead to 17-3 at the halfway point in the match.

Logan Heil and Wynton Denkins recorded wins by decision at 133 and 149 pounds, respectively.

At 165 pounds, Dom Baker recorded a reversal and 1:30 of riding time for a 3-1 victory over Cole Nance. Levi Hopkins' 4-1 win over Andrew Liber rounded out the individual wins for Campbell.

UP NEXT
The Camels take part in the fourth annual Chippewa Challenge on Sunday. At the event, they'll face off against host American, Central Michigan and CSU Bakersfield.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Scotti Sentes
On his overall impressions of the match:
"I thought we did a good job of pushing the pace. We still need to improve on getting out of legs. Bellarmine did a great job on top, of getting the legs in, and they won a couple of key matches there on top. They were able to ride out one of our top guys at 197. So, certainly there is some room for improvement. I thought Bellarmine came out to wrestle, and our guys kept putting the heat on them. That's what you like to see."

On the performance of Landon Sargent:
"It's been great. Any time you're losing a returning All-American, you're always saying 'next guy up'. That's something the team always says. You always have to be ready because you never know when you're going to have your opportunity. Landon has been making the most of his opportunity. He's a local North Carolina product, lives right up the road. He wanted to come here and train with Taye [Ghadiali], and at this point, Taye's just acting as a coach. So, to see him perform and get some big wins, secure duals for us and get pins, it's everything you want to see. I'm proud of how he's been competing."

HWT Landon Sargent
On his 3-0 performance to start the conference slate:
"Being a true freshman, it means so much to me. Not many people get the opportunity to get on the mat their true freshman year and perform for their school at the conference level. With Taye being hurt, he's helped me tremendously these last three weeks. He pushes me every day at practice and he's always in my corner. He's been a big help for my 3-0 start. I'm just looking to keep going forward."

On his aggressiveness in the first period:
"I'd say against Chattanooga I went a little too hard. This match was definitely a good pace to show what I do in the first period. That's something I've been working on with Taye: controlling my pace. I'm an aggressive wrestler; I'd rather be on the mat than anywhere else."

On wrestling close to home in front of his friends and family:
"It means the world to me; being out of high school and still having friends and family coming out to support me in college and in every way possible."

RESULTS
Campbell 29, Bellarmine 10
Individual Rankings according to NCAA Coaches' Rankings
125: #21 Anthony Molton (CAM) def. Damion Ryan (BEL), TF 23-7 (3:16) | 5-0
133: Logan Heil (CAM) def. Trayce Eckman (BEL), DEC 6-4 | 8-0
141: AJ Rallo (BEL) def. #21 Shannon Hanna (CAM), DEC 9-5 | 8-3
149: Wynton Denkins (CAM) def. Zac Cowan (BEL), DEC 4-2 | 11-3
157: Chris Earnest (CAM) def. Jeb Prechtel (BEL), Fall 3:20 | 17-3
165: #29 Dom Baker (CAM) def. Cole Nance (BEL), DEC 3-1 | 20-3
174: Grant O'Dell (BEL) def. Riley Augustine (CAM), SV-1 4-1 | 20-6
184: Devan Hendricks (BEL) def. Mike Slade (CAM), MD 12-2 | 20-10
197: #25 Levi Hopkins (CAM) def. Andrew Liber (BEL), DEC 4-1 | 23-10
HWT: Landon Sargent (CAM) def. Will Muckler (BEL), Fall 1:42 | 29-10

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