WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Averett University men's wrestling guaranteed itself a record-tying eight placers with a record six Cougars advancing to Saturday's semifinals during the first day of the NCAA Division III Southeast Region Championships hosted Friday by Lycoming College.
 
The Cougars matched the program record eight regional placers, which was also accomplished in 2022. The six semifinalists this year surpassed last season's mark of five for the seventh-year program.

"Our guys wrestled solid today," Averett head coach Blake Roulo said. "They fed off each other. We've just got to take it one match at a time. If we keep our emotions in check, we have the team to make something happen on Day 2."

Junior Mason Barrett, ranked 12th nationally by the National Wrestling Coaches Association and No. 9 by The Open Mat at 125 pounds, continued his quest to repeat as the Southeast Region champion by advancing to Saturday's semifinals with two wins on Friday. After receiving a first-round bye, Barrett won by technical fall (17-1, 4:03) over Messiah University's Tyler Ratledge in the second round, then earned an 8-3 decision over Delaware Valley University's Malik Asfour in the quarterfinals.

At 149 pounds, regionally ranked junior Jesse Alvarado also advanced to the semifinals with his 10-1 major decision over Roanoke College's Jarrod Pominville in the quarterfinals. Alvarado, who earned a bye in the first round, won by a 14-0 major decision in the second round over King's College's Martin Turi.

Regionally ranked junior Anthony Taylor picked up three victories on Friday on his path to the 165-pound semifinals. Taylor won by technical fall (16-0, 4:16) in the first round, pinned Greensboro College's Nicholas Menjivar (1:13) in the second around and earned a 16-10 decision over Washington and Lee University's Mark Troni in the quarterfinals to punch his ticket.

In the 174-pound bracket, regionally ranked junior Khalil Mitchell won in sudden victory, 7-4, over Roanoke's Xavier Preston in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals. After receiving a first-round bye, Mitchell won by technical fall (18-0, 2:25) on the second round over Ferrum College's William Melton.

Like Taylor, regionally ranked senior George Moseley also picked up three wins Friday to propel him into the 184-pound semifinals. Moseley pinned all three opponents in the first period, including Wilkes University's Christopher Nuss in a time of 1:28 during their quarterfinal matchup.

Regionally ranked senior heavyweight Trent Ragland was the final Cougar to earn a spot in the semifinals. After earning a first-round bye, Ragland pinned his second-round opponent in under a minute, then edged Roanoke's Brady Elswick 1-0 in the quarterfinals.

Each of the six semifinalists have the opportunity to qualify for nationals if they finish within the top three of their respective weight classes.

Two other Cougars guaranteed themselves a spot on the podium on Friday. At 133 pounds, A.J. Orlando III started his day with a pair of major decision victories before falling in the quarterfinals. He bounced back, however, with an 11-2 major decision win over Washington and Lee's Trey Custodio in the consolation round. Regionally ranked senior Jamar Christian, who earned a bye in the first round, dominated Greensboro's Khalil Belk by a 15-3 major decision in the second round before losing his quarterfinal matchup. In the consolation round, Christian responded with a pin of Gettysburg College's Phil Nave in the third period.

Wrestling continues on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m.
 
 
NCAA Division III Southeast Regional Results (Day 1)
Hosted by Lycoming College
March 1, 2024
 
125
Champ. Round 1 - Mason Barrett (Averett) received a bye
Champ. Round 2 - Mason Barrett (Averett) def. Tyler Ratledge (Messiah), TF 17-1 (4:03)
Quarterfinal - Mason Barrett (Averett) def. Malik Asfour (Delaware Valley), Dec 8-3
 
133
Champ. Round 1 – A.J. Orlando III (Averett) def. Michael Richardson (Wilkes), MD 12-3
Champ. Round 2 – A.J. Orlando III (Averett) def. Cole Neil (Penn State Behrend), MD 19-7
Quarterfinal - Jacob Blair (Delaware Valley) def. A.J. Orlando III (Averett), TF 17-0 (4:29)
Cons. Round 4 – A.J. Orlando III (Averett) def. Trey Custodio (Washington and Lee), MD 11-2
 
141
Champ. Round 1 - Mauricio Reyes (Averett) received a bye
Champ. Round 2 - Skyler Hickman (Washington and Lee) def. Mauricio Reyes (Averett), MD 9-0
Cons. Round 2 - Weston Hirschi (Southern Virginia) def. Mauricio Reyes (Averett), Fall (2:23)
 
149
Champ. Round 1 - Jesse Alvarado (Averett) received a bye
Champ. Round 2 - Jesse Alvarado (Averett) def. Martin Turi (King`s Pa.), MD 14-0
Quarterfinal - Jesse Alvarado (Averett) def. Jarrod Pominville (Roanoke), MD 10-1
 
157
Champ. Round 1 - Xavier Swanson (Averett) received a bye
Champ. Round 2 - Jaryn Hartranft (Wilkes) def. Xavier Swanson (Averett), Dec 8-6
Cons. Round 2 - Xavier Swanson (Averett) received a bye
Cons. Round 3 - Tallion Elliott (Marymount) def. Xavier Swanson (Averett), Dec 7-2
 
165
Champ. Round 1 - Anthony Taylor (Averett) def. Jiovanni DeChicchis (Washington & Jefferson), TF 16-0 (4:16)
Champ. Round 2 - Anthony Taylor (Averett) def. Nicholas Menjivar (Greensboro), Fall (1:13)
Quarterfinal - Anthony Taylor (Averett) def. Mark Troni (Washington & Lee), Dec 16-10
 
174
Champ. Round 1 - Khalil Mitchell (Averett) received a bye
Champ. Round 2 - Khalil Mitchell (Averett) def. William Melton (Ferrum), TF 18-0 (2:25)
Quarterfinal - Khalil Mitchell (Averett) def. Xavier Preston (Roanoke), SV-1 7-4
 
184
Champ. Round 1 - George Moseley (Averett) def. Luca Romasco (York), Fall (2:48)
Champ. Round 2 - George Moseley (Averett) def. Jacob Hachtman (King`s Pa.), Fall (2:24)
Quarterfinal - George Moseley (Averett) def. Christopher Nuss (Wilkes), Fall (1:28)
 
197
Champ. Round 1 - Jamar Christian (Averett) received a bye
Champ. Round 2 - Jamar Christian (Averett) def. Khalil Belk (Greensboro), MD 15-3
Quarterfinal - Cameron Butka (Wilkes) def. Jamar Christian (Averett), Fall (0:37)
Cons. Round 4 - Jamar Christian (Averett) def. Phil Nave (Gettysburg), Fall (6:37)
 
285
Champ. Round 1 - Trent Ragland (Averett) received a bye
Champ. Round 2 - Trent Ragland (Averett) def. Trevor Manley (Washington & Jefferson), Fall (0:57)
Quarterfinal - Trent Ragland (Averett) def. Brady Elswick (Roanoke), Dec 1-0