EMORY, Va. — The Averett University wrestling team earned a lopsided 57-0 season-opening decision over first-year program Emory & Henry College in dual action on Wednesday evening to open the season.
 
The Cougars put up an impressive 57-point team score to tally the highest dual total in program history, beating their previous 53-point accumulation set last season against Saint Andrews University. 

The contest also served as the first official regular season event against an outside opponent for any Averett team since March 12, 2020, when intercollegiate athletics was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Averett benefited early from five Wasps forfeits as senior Sam Braswell (nationally ranked No. 4), junior Joseph Jones, senior Brandon Woody (nationally ranked No. 9), junior Tony Blackman and sophomore Landon Childress all won via forfeit to give the Cougars a 30-0 early advantage. 
 
Freshman Alex Turley kicked off the Cougars season-opening match in grand fashion, pinning Dalton Biggs in 1:02 for his first collegiate victory at Averett. While sophomore George Moseley (nationally ranked No. 11) continued where he left off following an All-America freshman campaign with a 46-second pin over Josh Brooks to give Averett a 42-0 edge. 
 
Sophomore transfer Nasser McCummings continued the Cougars dominating opener, winning by pin in 1:28 to push the advantage to 48-0 to earn his first victory as a Cougar. 
 
Averett's tightest scoring match of the evening came in the 197-pound weight class as sophomore transfer Billy Baldwin earned an 11-4 decision for his first victory, while sophomore Trent Ragland (nationally ranked No. 14) pinned Wade Wheeler in the 285-pound weight class to seal the Cougars 57-0 decision. 
 
Following dual action, the Cougars competed in several exhibition bouts as freshman Jaleel Jones lost via pin after leading late in his first match, while junior Caleb Calhoun earned a hard-fought 5-3 overtime decision. Sophomore Kowan Lee earned his first victory of the season, winning by decision 10-4 over Donovan Pinnix and freshman Cleon Lawton collected his first collegiate win by pin over Dalton Biggs. 
 
Freshman Jovante' Hobbs continued the Cougars impressive exhibition showing winning 10-1 by major decision for his first collegiate victory, while junior John Bishop and freshman Zion Carpenter earned back-to-back first period pins. Bishop winning in an impressive 26-second showing, while Carpenter collected his first collegiate victory. Freshman Jamar Christian also tallied his first collegiate win, tech falling Ethan Hughes 18-3 in the 285-pound weight class. While Lee and Calhoun both fell in the Cougars final two exhibition matches on the evening. 
 
Averett returns to the mat on Saturday when it travels to Salem, Virginia, for the Star City Open hosted by Roanoke College. 
 

Match-by-match results
125 Sam Braswell win by Forfeit
133 Joseph Jones win by Forfeit
141 Brandon Woody win by Forfeit
149 Tony Blackman win by Forfeit
157 Landon Childress win by Forfeit
165 Alex Turley def. Dalton Biggs, Fall 1:02
174 George Moseley def. Matthew Cox, Fall 0:46
184 Nasser McCummings def. Brenden Blevins, Fall 1:28
197 Billy Baldwin def. Josh Brooks, Dec. 11-4
285 Trent Ragland def. Wade Wheeler, Fall 4:26
 
Exhibition results
285 Ethan Hughes def. Jaleel Jones, Fall 5:58
285 Caleb Calhoun def. Austin McBee, SV-1 5-3
285 Kowan Lee def. Donovan Pinnix, Dec. 10-4
165 Cleon Lawton def. Dalton Biggs, Fall 6:41
174 Jovante' Hobbs def. Matthew Cox, MD. 10-1
184 John Bishop def. Brenden Blevins, Fall :26
197 Zion Carpenter def. Josh Brooks, Fall 2:28
285 Jamar Christian def. Ethan Hughes, TF 18-3 5:00
285 Austin McBee, def. Kowan Lee, Fall 3:49
285 Donovan Pinnix def. Caleb Calhoun, Dec. 9-8