Buena Vista, VA - The Southern Virginia men's wrestling team clashed with Shenandoah University in a thrilling ODAC Dual on Thursday night falling 17-32.
Head Coach Brigg Hoopes shared his insights, commending Quinn Richards for his impressive performance. Coach Hoopes noted, "Quinn Richards had a hard start and has been on a roll the last couple of weeks. He's buying in and figuring out his game. Super impressed with Eli; hardly anyone can beat him." Eli's dominance in the 149-pound division evidently left a lasting impression.
Coach Hoopes expressed pride in his team's overall effort, acknowledging their youthful roster and emphasizing areas for improvement. He stated, "Other than that, I am proud of my team. We are young, and we have a lot of places where we can be better. Looking forward to watching these young freshmen be great." The coach's optimism and belief in the team's potential bode well for their future performances.
As Southern Virginia gears up for future challenges, Coach Hoopes' words serve as both a testament to the team's current accomplishments and a motivating call to continue striving for excellence in the matches to come.
The Knights commenced the action-packed evening with Quinn Richards taking center stage in the 125-pound division. Quinn wasted no time, initiating the battle with a swift single-leg takedown. Despite a fiercely contested first round, Richards emerged with a 3-1 lead. An early escape in the second extended his advantage to 4-1. Richards continued to showcase his prowess with another well-executed leg shot, securing a takedown and pushing the score to 7-1. A last-second takedown culminated in a commanding 10-3 lead after two rounds. In the final round, Quinn thwarted a takedown attempt, responded with one of his own, and clinched the match with a dominant 16-6 major decision victory.
Moving to the 133-pound division, John Carlson faced an early setback with a takedown, enduring over 2 minutes of riding and a near fall. Trailing 10-1 going into the second round, Carlson displayed resilience with commendable takedown attempts. Despite his efforts, he succumbed to a technical fall, in the last round concluding the match at 18-3.
Porter Kinne, grappling in the 141-pound division, aimed to turn the tide for the Knights. A fiercely contested first round left both wrestlers scoreless. The battle continued in the second, but Quinn struggled to find an escape, allowing the Hornets to accumulate two minutes of riding time. In the third, despite a swift start, Kinne found himself reversed and unable to secure an escape, ultimately falling in a close 2-0 decision.
Elijah Blackwell entered the fray in the 149-pound division, shifting the momentum in favor of the Knights. An early exchange of handfighting set the stage for Blackwell's quick takedown, closing the first round with a 3-0 lead. The second round, starting from a neutral position, played into Blackwell's strategy as he secured another rapid takedown, entering the third round with a commanding 9-1 lead. Blackwell sealed the victory with a majority decision, triumphing 14-2.
The 157-pound division featured Weston Hirschi, who unfortunately struggled to find his footing, succumbing to a fall in the first round.
In the 165-pound weight class, Calvin Filmore faced a challenging start, engaging in a contested bout before ultimately succumbing to a pin in the first round.
Tyson Hoopes, eyeing an opportunity to contribute to the Knights' scoring, encountered a setback as a failed takedown attempt was reversed, leading to a first-round fall.
In the 184-pound division, Hank Svedin secured a victory by forfeit, providing a boost to the Knights in that weight class.
Loyal Holm stepped onto the mat in the 197-pound division but faced a tough challenge, falling victim to a pin in the first round. The Knights struggled to gain a quick start in the rounds.
In the 285-pound division, Melipone Aisea showcased a strong performance. An opening exchange saw Aisea execute a takedown followed by a slam, entering the second round with a minute of riding time and a 3-0 advantage. Aisea maintained the pressure in the second, pushing his lead to 5-0 going into the third. Aisea didn't relent, keeping his opponent grounded and securing a 5-1 decision victory.
As the evening concluded, Southern Virginia looked ahead to their next challenge, hosting a dual against Ferrum College on Friday, February 2nd, marking their final home match of the season.
For all the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University men's wrestling, please visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_wrestling on Instagram.
