LAKELAND, Fla.—For the third time in as many home matches, the Fire wrestling team will host a ranked Mid-South Conference opponent.
This season, the Fire have posted an impressive 10-4 dual meet record, having wrestled 10 matches against ranked or receiving votes squads.
Southeastern welcomes Life University to The Fire Pit on Saturday for Senior Day. The Running Eagles recently placed second at the NWCA National Team Duals, and have nine wrestlers individually ranked.
In 10 dual meets, the Eagles are 8-2 with the losses at No. 16 Reinhardt in November, and to seven-time defending national champion Grand View in the May Mayhem championship.
Defending 157-pound champion Nosomy Pozo has posted a 6-0 record this season and remains the top-ranked wrestler at 157. Mason Calvert was an All-American last season at 141, finishing sixth. He’s currently 17th at 149.
Additionally, Life also has Top 10 wrestlers at 125 (DeVaughn Sapien- 9th), 174 (Lucius Van Rensburg- 5th), and 197 (Diallo Matsimella- 9th).
Southeastern is in search of their first dual meet victory against Life in program history. Last year at the Fire Duals, SEU led 17-16 with three matches left which were all won by Life. Jake Watters won a 4-0 decision over Calvert, who he may face again Saturday.
Saturday’s dual will also serve as Senior Day. Before the match, the Fire will honor six seniors which includes five that were part of the first recruiting class in program history. Nate Cleland, Ben Cruz, Marcus Macias, Zech Rives, and Zach Branning all came to Southeastern in the Fall of 2015 and helped establish a winning culture over the past four seasons. Luis Peguero, a graduate transfer, is also part of the group.
There will be a pre-match pancake breakfast starting at 10 a.m. Additionally, the first 100 fans will receive takedown foam fingers.