DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University men's wrestling put two wrestlers in the semifinals and guaranteed itself eight region placers as the Cougars opened action in the two-day NCAA Division III Region 4 Championships hosted in the E. Stuart James Grant Center on Saturday.

Averett had two wrestlers — seniors Mason Barrett and Anthony Taylor — go 2-0 on Day 1 to advance to Saturday's semifinals, putting both in prime contention for a spot to qualify for nationals. At 125, Barrett pinned his first opponent Anakin Burks of Shenandoah University in 50 seconds, then won in the quarterfinals with an 18-0 victory by technical fall in the first period over Randolph College's Justin Porter. Nationally ranked, Barrett will face Roanoke College's Isaic Paulino in the semifinals on Saturday. Meanwhile, at 157, Taylor earned a 16-1 win by tech fall against Saint Vincent's College's Logan Bechtold in the first round before pinning Heidelberg University's Anthony Grecol in the second period. He faces Washington and Lee University's Colin Bridges in Saturday's semifinals.

Nine of the Cougars' 10 wrestlers won their opening matches to begin the first of two days of action hosted by Averett. At the end of Day 1, seven Cougars guaranteed themselves a top-eight region placement by advancing to Saturday.

All 10 Cougars achieved at least one victory with nine earning multiple wins on Saturday. Sophomore A.J. Orlando III, fifth-year senior Mauricio Reyes, freshman Andres Cortes, junior Xavier Swanson and junior Nolan Gerwitz each bounced back with a win in the consolation round to advance to Saturday's final day.

Day 2 begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the semifinals and consolation rounds before getting to the placement matches and championships later in the day. Any wrestler who finishes in the top three of his respective weight class earns an automatic berth into the NCAA National Championships in two weeks.

 

NCAA Region 4 Championships
Day 1

125
Champ. Round 1 - Mason Barrett (Averett) def. Anakin Burks (Shenandoah), Fall (0:50)
Quarterfinal - Mason Barrett (Averett) def. Justin Porter (Randolph), TF 18-0 (1:55)

133
Champ. Round 1 - AJ Orlando III (Averett) def. Francisco Ramirez (Southern Virginia), Fall (1:34)
Quarterfinal - Jonah Paulino (Roanoke) def. AJ Orlando III (Averett), TF 15-0 (4:42)
Cons. Round 2 - AJ Orlando III (Averett) def. Jason Louiso (Wilmington), TF 15-0 (2:03)

141
Champ. Round 1 - Mauricio Reyes (Averett) def. Will Brodbeck (Hiram), TF 21-5 (4:28)
Quarterfinal - Josh Wilson (Greensboro) def. Mauricio Reyes (Averett), Fall (0:51)
Cons. Round 2 - Mauricio Reyes (Averett) def. Josh Gibson (Heidelberg), Dec 10-4

149
Champ. Round 1 - Andres Cortes (Averett) def. Noah Williams (Randolph), Fall (1:34)
Quarterfinal - Taylor Smith (Washington & Jefferson) def. Andres Cortes (Averett), MD 18-5
Cons. Round 2 - Andres Cortes (Averett) def. Trent Vandeneynden (Otterbein), MD 20-9

157
Champ. Round 1 - Anthony Taylor (Averett) def. Logan Bechtold (St. Vincent), TF 16-1 (6:47)
Quarterfinal - Anthony Taylor (Averett) def. Anthony Grecol (Heidelberg), Fall (3:58)

165
Champ. Round 1 - Xavier Swanson (Averett) def. Jake Starkey (Mount Union), MD 11-3
Quarterfinal - Mark Troni (Washington & Lee) def. Xavier Swanson (Averett), Dec 2-1
Cons. Round 2 - Xavier Swanson (Averett) def. Avery Hall (Ferrum), Fall (3:58)

174
Prelim - Carter Lloyd (Baldwin Wallace) def. Michael Gabbard (Averett), Dec 4-0
Prelim - Michael Gabbard (Averett) 23-16 def. Anthony Joiner (Thiel), Fall (1:56)
Cons. Round 1 - Michael Gabbard (Averett) def. Tyson Hoopes (Southern Virginia), Dec 4-1
Cons. Round 2 - Dylan Weaver (Shenandoah) def. Michael Gabbard (Averett), TF 18-3 (3:16)

184
Champ. Round 1 - Nolan Gerwitz (Averett) def. Seth Holt (Hiram), Fall (2:36)
Quarterfinal - Owen Frizzell (Heidelberg) def. Nolan Gerwitz (Averett), MD 11-3
Cons. Round 2 - Nolan Gerwitz (Averett) def. Joesph Toner (Ferrum), Dec 8-6

197
Champ. Round 1 - Jacob Jiminez (Averett) def. Jaden Bell (Hiram), Fall (1:47)
Quarterfinal - John Santowski (Washington & Lee) def. Jacob Jiminez (Averett), MD 8-0
Cons. Round 2 - Joseph King (Thiel) def. Jacob Jiminez (Averett), Fall (1:54)

285
Prelim - Braeden Fluke (Averett) def. Michael Hopson (Hiram), Fall (1:54)
Champ. Round 1 - Scotty Edwards (Muskingum) def. Braeden Fluke (Averett), Fall (2:12)
Cons. Round 1 - Braeden Fluke (Averett) def. Jaron Polk (Waynesburg), Fall (0:42)
Cons. Round 2 - Nicholas Cook (Roanoke) def. Braeden Fluke (Averett), TF 19-4 (6:39)