Alliance, Ohio - The Southern Virginia University men's wrestling team opened their season at the Mount Union Invitational in Alliance, Ohio, competing fiercely against strong programs across various weight classes.
133 lbs: Francisco Ramirez led Southern Virginia at 133 lbs with a 1-2 record, contributing 2.5 team points. He started with a first-round loss by fall but rebounded by pinning teammate Joseph Comaduron in the consolation bracket. His final match was a tight 16-13 decision loss. Fellow teammate Matthew Papa also competed, securing a bye in the consolation bracket after a close decision loss in his opening match but eventually falling by technical fall in the next round. Comaduron also had a challenging day, dropping both his matches, including the faceoff with Ramirez.
141 lbs: Richie Kulessa advanced with a bye in the first round but dropped his second match in a close 4-0 decision. He rallied in the consolation rounds with a 7-3 decision win but eventually fell by major decision, concluding his day at 1-2 and adding 0.5 team points.
149 lbs: Porter Kinne scored a victory in the consolation rounds, adding 1.0 team point. He began with a loss by fall but fought back with an 8-7 decision win in the next round. However, his day ended with a narrow 5-2 decision loss. Corbin Mecham, also wrestling at 149 lbs, was pinned in both of his matches.
174 lbs: Tyson Hoopes showcased resilience with a 2-2 record and earned 3.0 team points. After an opening-round bye and a loss by technical fall, he rebounded with a 7-0 decision win and a pin in the consolation rounds before ending with an 8-1 decision loss. Teammate Noah James also competed but faced tough competition, concluding with an 0-2 record after an early fall and a major decision loss.
184 lbs: Ikia Garcia placed 7th, finishing 2-2 with 6.5 team points. After an initial bye, Garcia dropped his quarterfinal match but returned with a major decision win in the consolation rounds. He closed his day in the 7th-place match with an impressive 11-2 major decision win over teammate Hank Svedin, who took 8th after earning one victory by technical fall and scoring 3.5 points.
197 lbs: Britton Sorenson also placed 8th with a 2-3 record and scored 8.5 points. He opened with a win by fall but faced tough losses afterward. He capped off his day in the 7th-place match after a challenging matchup. Teammates Loyal Holm and Zol Sukhee also competed in the 197 lbs division, each falling short despite hard-fought efforts.
285 lbs: Heavyweight Porter Trapp battled through to a 1-2 record, securing a pin in the consolation rounds before his day ended in a hard-fought contest. Jonathan Cox added 4.0 points with a win by fall, though his run was cut short in the quarterfinals and another fall in the consolation rounds.
Southern Virginia now prepares for the Washing and Jefferson Invitational hosted in Washington, PA on Saturday, November 9th.
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.
