NTL WRESTLING: ATHENS TOPS TROY, 41-35 (January 7, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
TROY — Athens enjoyed an 18-point advantage in forfeits and that was the difference in the Wildcats' 41-35 win over Troy here Wednesday night in NTL wrestling action at the Commons Building.

After the first four weight classes 12-11, thanks to forfeits to freshman Chace VanDyke at 107 pounds and junior Zaine Campbell at 127 pounds.

Garret Parks put Troy on the board with a 20-4 technical fall of freshman Josh Saxon in 5:51, and picked up a forfeit at 121 pounds.

Troy took the lead with a pin by Keqagan Kerr at 133 pounds, but junior Lucas Persun scored a fall of Wilder Koch in 1:40 at 139 pounds to put Athens back ahead, at 18-17.

After a second-period pin by Troy's Logunn Heasley at 145, sophomore Treyton Barrett received a forfeit at 152 pounds and Athens led 24-23.

After Troy's Hunter Watson scored a fall in 1:41 at 160 pounds, Athens senior Ryan Howard answered with a pin in 2:21 at 172 pounds, the Wildcats led 30-29.

Junior Brendan Cooke received a forfeit at 189 pounds to make it 36-29, and junior Landon Layman cinched the win for the Wildcats with a 25-10 technical fail of James Deakin in 4:31.

Troy standout Reed Palmer closed out the match with a fall over senior Brenden Comstock in 2:28.

Athens, now 4-1 in duals, returns to action this weekend at the Mid-Winter Mayhem tournament at IU. The Wildcats' next dual is Monday at Northeast Bradford.

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IN PHOTO: Athens junior Lucas Persun in action against Canton. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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ATHENS 41, TROY 35
107: Chace VanDyke (A) by forfeit;
114: Garret Parks (T) tech. fall Joshua Saxon (A), 20-4 5:15;
121: Anthony Jordan (T) by forfeit;
127: Zaine Campbell (A) by forfeit;
133: Keagan Kerr (T) by fall over Connor Garrison (A), 3:22;
139: Lucas Persun (A) by fall over Wilder Koch (T), 1:40;
145: Logunn Heasley (T) by fall over Wyatt Clink (A), 3:28;
152: Treyton Barrett (A) by forfeit;
160: Hunter Watson (T) by fall over Isreal Sensenig (A), 1:41;
172: Ryan Howard (A) by fall over Thomas Moon (T), 2:12;
189: Brendan Cooke (A) by forfeit;
215: Landon Layman (A) by fall over James Deakin (T), 25-10 4:31;
285: Reed Palmer (T) by fall over Brenden Comstock (A), 2:28.

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