WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Averett University men's wrestling, in its seventh year of existence, achieved even greater heights and re-wrote its record book Saturday at the 2024 NCAA Division III Southeast Region Championships hosted by Lycoming College. The Cougars set program records with six national qualifiers, two region champions, six region semifinalists and highest team finish while also tying its program mark for most region placers with eight to cap off a banner weekend.
Junior 125-pounder
Mason Barrett and senior 184-pounder
George Moseley each won their weight classes, while senior heavyweight
Trent Ragland, junior 174-pounder
Khalil Mitchell, junior 149-pounder
Jesse Alvarado and junior 165-pounder
Anthony Taylor also punched their ticket to the 2024 NCAA Division III national championships, which will be held March 15-16 in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
With two region champions, two runner-up finishes, two third-places, a seventh-place and an eighth-place, Averett totaled 146.5 team points to earn second place in the standings among the 22 teams at the Southeast Region Championships. Stevens won with 164.5 team points, but the Cougars were the top finisher among Old Dominion Athletic Conference schools while producing a region-best six national qualifiers.
"Today was a historic day for our program" Averett wrestling head coach
Blake Roulo said. Six NCAA qualifiers is inspiring, along with eight regional placers. Our wrestlers gave an unbelievable effort by finishing second as a team out of the tough 22-team field. It's all about peaking at the right time and us as a program taking one match at a time is the right approach for us to succeed at the national level."
Barrett put together a historic performance at 125 pounds by securing a second consecutive Southeast Region title. He became the first Cougar to win back-to-back region titles and only the second Averett wrestler ever to win multiple region crowns, matching current assistant coach
Sam Braswell. Barrett, ranked No. 12 in the nation and No. 2 in the region by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, had a tough road on Saturday to return to the top of the podium. He first had to knock of Alvernia University's Keito Shaw, who is ranked No. 6 in the region. Barrett did that with a third-period pin to clinch a spot in the national tournament. That semifinal win set up a showdown with Roanoke College's Mac Cafurello, who is ranked No. 11 nationally and No. 1 in the region, in a rematch from a Feb. 8 dual, where Cafurello edged Barrett in a six-overtime thriller. This time, however, Barrett got his revenge on the big stage. Knotted 1-1 through three periods, the two conference rivals went to overtime yet again. Barrett sealed the sudden-victory win with a takedown 20 seconds in to claim the region title and earn his second consecutive NCAA national tournament berth. It was Averett's fourth consecutive region championship in the 125-pound weight class (no NCAA region tournament was held in 2021).
Averett's other region title came at 184 pounds, where Moseley dominated the bracket. Ranked No. 6 in the region, Moseley pinned his first three opponents of the tournament including Delaware Valley University's Nick Hall, who was ranked No. 3 in the region. That set up a collision with Stevens Institute's Joel Martsinovsky, who is ranked No. 9 nationally and No. 1 in the region. Moseley controlled the match from the start, getting a takedown and a four-point nearfall in the first period one his way to an 8-1 victory to give him his first region title and Averett's first region winner outside of 125 pounds. The win also qualified Moseley for nationals for the second time in his career. Moseley's three pins over four matches also earned him the Manuel Gorriaran Most Falls Award from the Southeast Regional.
"Both of them have the ability to beat anyone in the county," Roulo said. "They put that on full display today. That's four straight seasons where the 125-pound bracket has been won by an Averett wrestler. And when Moseley is on, he is dominant."
Averett had two other wrestlers advance to their respective finals, with both losing in heart-breaking fashion. At 174 pounds, Mitchell, who is ranked No. 4 in the region, upset Waynesburg University's Colby Morris, who is ranked No. 4 in the nation and No 1 in the region, in the semifinals with a, 18-12 decision to clinch a spot at nationals. Mitchell rode that momentum into the finals and had a 4-1 lead going into the third period against Stevens' Stefan Major, who is ranked No. 8 in the nation and No. 2 in the region. Major got an escape, followed by a takedown with 35 seconds remaining to surge ahead and win, giving Mitchell a runner-up finish. Ragland also finished as the runner-up at 285 pounds after another nail-biting finish against nemesis Rayshawn Dixon of Ferrum College. Dixon, ranked No. 3 in the country and No. 1 nationally, had edged Ragland by a combined three points over their previous two meetings this season. Ragland, ranked No. 2 regionally, found himself against Dixon in the region final. Tied 4-4 in the third period, Dixon snuck in a takedown with 23 seconds remaining to win. Ragland finished as the runner-up and had already clinched his first trip to the national tournament with his semifinal major decision win over Delaware Valley's Logan Flynn, who is ranked No. 3 in the region.
Barrett, Moseley, Mitchell and Ragland were four of the six Cougars who advanced to Saturday's semifinals with their success on Friday. The other two —Alvarado and Taylor — had to battle back through the blood rounds in order to try to qualify for nationals. Ranked No. 7 at 149 pounds, Alvarado suffered a tough 5-3 loss to Washington and Lee University's Evan Lindner, who is ranked No. 3 regionally. That sent Alvarado to the consolation bracket, where he pinned his final two opponents — including Stevens' Pasquale Vizzoni, who is ranked No. 2 in the region — to seal his first trip to the national tournament with a third-place finish. Taylor, ranked No. 6 regionally at 165 pounds, fell to 2023 national runner-up Matt Lackman of Alvernia, who is ranked No. 1 in the country. Taylor fought back to pin his opponent in the consolation semifinals, then earned a 15-6 major decision over Delaware Valley's Adam Coleman, who is ranked No. 7 in the region, in the third-place match to also qualify for his first national tournament.
"I'm just so happy for guys finally rewarding themselves," Roulo said. "Taylor has been in the match to go twice and finally broke through. Guys like Ragland and Alvarado finally making the big stage not so big makes me really proud of them. And then Mitchell believing in himself. I am smiling ear to ear because for the first time all year, everything seemed to go our way. They now know they can do it. When you have a team that believes you have a scary team."
After suffering losses on Day 1, Averett senior
Jamar Christian and freshman
A.J. Orlando III both placed for the Cougars. Christian finished in seventh place, while Orlando ended his season with an eighth-place finish to round out the Cougars' record-tying eight placers at regionals.
Gallery: (3-2-2024) 2024 NCAA Wrestling Southeast Regional
NCAA Division III Southeast Region Results
Hosted by Lycoming College
March 1-2, 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
Semifinal - Mason Barrett (Averett) def. Keito Shaw (Alvernia), Fall (6:05)
1st Place Match - Mason Barrett (Averett) def. Mac Cafurello (Roanoke), SV-1 4-1
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
Cons. Round 5 - Evan Whiteside (Thiel) def. A.J. Orlando III (Averett), Fall (3:48)
7th Place Match - Thomas Conselyea (Lycoming) def. A.J. Orlando III (Averett), Dec 9-8
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
Semifinal - Evan Lindner (Washington & Lee) def. Jesse Alvarado (Averett), Dec 5-3
Cons. Semi - Jesse Alvarado (Averett) def. Pasquale Vizzoni (Stevens), Fall (3:30)
3rd Place Match - Jesse Alvarado (Averett) def. Kobin Karper (Lycoming), Fall (1:50)
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
Semifinal - Matt Lackman (Alvernia) def. Anthony Taylor (Averett), TF 16-0 (4:57)
Cons. Semi - Anthony Taylor (Averett) def. Clay Gainer (Messiah), Fall (2:07)
3rd Place Match - Anthony Taylor (Averett) def. Adam Coleman (Delaware Valley), MD 15-6
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
Semifinal - Khalil Mitchell (Averett) def. Colby Morris (Waynesburg), Dec 18-12
1st Place Match - Stefan Major (Stevens) def. Khalil Mitchell (Averett), Dec 6-4
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
Semifinal - George Moseley (Averett) def. Nicholas Hall (Delaware Valley), Fall (4:27)
1st Place Match - George Moseley (Averett) def. Joel Martsinovsky (Stevens), Dec 8-1)
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)
Cons. Round 5 - Blaise Wagner (Stevens) def. Jamar Christian (Averett), MD 24-12
7th Place Match - Jamar Christian (Averett) def. Mauro Pellot (Alvernia), medical forfeit
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
Semifinal - Trent Ragland (Averett) def. Logan Flynn (Delaware Valley), MD 12-4
1st Place Match - Rayshawn Dixon (Ferrum) def. Trent Ragland (Averett), Dec 7-4
NCAA Division III Southeast Region Team Scores
1. Stevens, 164.5
2. Averett, 146.5
3. Roanoke, 145.5
4. Delaware Valley, 118.0
5. Washington and Lee, 102.0
6. Lycoming, 96.5
7. Messiah, 94.0
8. Wilkes, 91.5
9. Alvernia, 88.0
10. Ferrum, 64.0
11. Washington & Jefferson, 46.0
12. Gettysburg, 39.0
T-13. Marymount, 32.5
T-13. Shenandoah, 32.5
15. Thiel, 31.0
16. St. Vincent, 26.0
17. Greensboro, 25.5
18. Penn State Behrend, 24.5
19. Waynesburg, 22.0
20. York (Pa.), 18.5
21. Southern Virginia, 16.0
22. King`s (Pa.), 10.5
NCAA Division III Southeast Awards
Most Outstanding Wrestler – Josh Wilson, Greensboro
Coach of the Year – Nate Yetzer, Roanoke
Coaching Staff/Assistant Coaches of the Year – Roanoke
Most Falls – George Moseley, Averett
