DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University men's wrestling team dropped its first ever home dual meet to Huntingdon College, 24-21, on Saturday night at the Grant Center. The Cougars collected two falls and three decisions in the effort. 
 
Freshman Sam Braswell raced the Cougars out to a hot start, pinning Wade Thomas at 125 pounds. Braswell picked up two takedowns before getting into a good position to secure the fall (1:43). Freshman Korpesh Gootee carried this momentum into his match at 133 pounds, edging Jacob Smith 5-4. Gootee trailed 4-3 heading into the second period, but kept battling and picked up a reversal to go ahead 5-4 which would prove to be enough to win the match.
 
Freshman Brandon Woody also won by decision over Mason Blakeney, 9-6. Woody used three takedowns to help propel him to the victory at 141 pounds. After freshman Josh Linkous dropped a close match 3-0 at 149 pounds, fellow freshman Deangelo Evans picked him up by claiming a fall at 157 pounds. Evans led 8-3 heading into the second period, but wasted no time in getting the pin as he put Kaleb Fontenot on his back about a minute into the second period.
 
Averett's last points of the night came at the 165-pound bout in the form of Will Merritt. After a scoreless first period, Merritt chose bottom and took the 1-0 lead with an escape. From there, the Fairfax, Virginia native extended his lead to 3-0 with a takedown. Going into the third period Merritt led 3-1 and eventually pulled away with another takedown to extend his lead once again and win the match, 5-2.

The Cougars are back in action in less than 24 hours when they travel to Roanoke, Virginia on Sunday to partake in the Star City Open hosted by Ferrum College. 

MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
125# - Sam Braswell (AU) over Wade Thomas (HC) (Fall 1:43)
133# - Korpesh Gootee (AU) over Jacob Smith (HC) (Dec 5-4)
141# - Brandon Woody (AU) over Mason Blakeney (HC) (Dec 9-6)
149# - Quintez Pearson (HC) over Josh Linkous (AU) (Dec 6-4)
157# - Deangelo Evans (AU) over Kaleb Fontenot (HC) (Fall 4:01) 
165# - Will Merritt (AU) over Sam Garrison (HC) (Dec 5-2)
174# - Wyatt Miller (HC) over Jake Phelps (AU) (TF 19-2)
184# - Cody Dixon (HC) over Triston Kechter (AU) (MD 13-2) 
197# - Ty'korious Walker (HC) over Chris Phelps (AU) (Fall 4:31) 
285# - Jesse Rowlen (HC) over Dia Gray (AU) (Fall 4:20)