HAMPTON, Va. — Averett University men's wrestling lost a close battle 25-23 to Elizabethtown University to open the day Saturday at the Virginia Duals, but the Cougars bounced back by cruising past Johns Hopkins University 35-11 in the seventh-place matchup later in the day.
 
After going 1-1 on Friday to begin the Virginia Duals, Averett's first consolation matchup pitted the Cougars against Elizabethtown. The 133-pound matchup pitted senior Mason Barrett — ranked No. 3 in the nation at 125 and No. 1 in Region 4 — wrestled up a weight class against Corey Cole, who is ranked No. 4 at 133 in Region 3. The bout went to overtime, where Cole got the pin to help Elizabethtown take an 11-0 lead after two weight classes. However, the Cougars responded with five consecutive wins. Sophomore A.J. Orlando III — ranked No. 5 in the region at 133 — and freshman Andres Cortes— ranked No. 7 in the region at 149 — won by fall at 141 and 149, respectively. Senior Anthony Taylor, who is No. 4 at 157, picked up a 22-9 win by major decision, as did regionally ranked junior Xavier Swanson, who won 15-1 at 165. At 174, junior Michael Gabbard earned a 7-6 decision over a fellow regionally ranked foe, Justice Hockenbery-Folk. Gabbard is ranked No. 4 in Region 4 at 174, while Hockenberry-Folk is No. 8 at 165 in Region 3.

Averett needed just one win in the final three weight classes to all but seal a chance to get to the fifth-place dual, but Elizabethtown trotted out three regionally ranked wrestlers over the final three bouts, including two ranked No. 2 in Region 3. The Blue Jays won by major decision and two tech falls to sneak out a 25-23 win over the Cougars.

Averett faced off with Johns Hopkins in the seventh-place matchup. Barrett returned to the 125-pound matchup, where he won with a 21-2 tech fall over Duncan Stadler, who is ranked No. 8 in Region 3. The win was the 100th career win for Barrett as he became only the third Cougar in program history to reach that milestone. He joined Sam Braswell and Brandon Woody with that distinction.

Cortes, Taylor and regionally ranked Jacob Jimenez also won by tech fall for the Cougars. Gabbard added a 9-5 decision at 174 and senior Noah Harris won by fall at 184. The Cougars almost got another win over a regionally ranked foe at 165, but Chris Roybal, who is No. 6 in Region 3, outlasted Swanson, who is ranked No. 6 regionally in Region 4, in overtime 4-1.

Averett returns home for a dual against Greensboro College on Thursday, Jan. 16.


Elizabethtown 25, Averett 23
125: Braden Schuyler (Elizabethtown) def. Kyree Flamer (Averett), TF 20-4 (5:48)
133: Corey Cole (Elizabethtown) def. Mason Barrett (Averett), Fall (7:14)
141: A.J. Orlando III (Averett) def. David Panone (Elizabethtown), Fall (4:36)
149: Andres Cortes (Averett) def. Christian Martinez (Elizabethtown), Fall (0:42)
157: Anthony Taylor (Averett) def. Michael Beers (Elizabethtown), MD 22-9
165: Xavier Swanson (Averett) def. Gavin Fehr (Elizabethtown), MD 15-1
174: Michael Gabbard (Averett) def. Justice Hockenberry-Folk (Elizabethtown), Dec. 7-6
184: Ganon Smith (Elizabethtown) def. Nolan Gerwitz (Averett), MD 11-2
197: Will Davis (Elizabethtown) def. Carter Erickson (Averett), TF 16-0 (4:38)
285: Ksawery Niewadomy (Elizabethtown) def. Braeden Fluke (Averett), TF 17-1 (2:05)


Averett 35, Johns Hopkins 11
Seventh Place
125: Mason Barrett (Averett) def. Duncan Stadler (Johns Hopkins), TF 21-2 (2:17)
133: A.J. Orlando III (Averett) def. Andrew Mahony (Johns Hopkins), Fall (0:51)
141: Georgio Difalco (Johns Hopkins) def. Wyatt Parker (Averett), MD 8-0
149: Andres Cortes (Averett) def. Max Apsel (Johns Hopkins), TF 16-1 (2:37)
157: Anthony Taylor (Averett) def. Freddy Pimental (Johns Hopkins), TF 23-7 (4:44)
165: Chris Roybal (Johns Hopkins) def. Xavier Swanson, SV-1 4-1
174: Michael Gabbard (Averett) def. Noah O'Connor (Johns Hopkins), Dec. 9-5
184: Noah Harris (Averett) def. Noah Graber (Johns Hopkins), Fall (1:34)
197: Jacob Jimenez (Averett) def. John Libby (Johns Hopkins), TF 21-6 (6:39)
285: Jake Pomykata (Johns Hopkins) def. Braeden Fluke (Averett), MD 14-5