Danville, Va. – The Southern Virginia University men's wrestling team opened their ODAC dual schedule with a tough loss against nationally-ranked No. 17 Averett University, falling 41-3.
The Cougars, ranked 17th nationally in The Open Mat's latest dual rankings, displayed their depth and talent, claiming victories in nine of the ten weight classes.
Match Highlights
149 lbs: Porter Kinne delivered the Knights' lone victory of the evening, securing a hard-fought 4-0 decision over Averett's Alex Driggs. Kinne's control on the mat stood out as a bright spot for Southern Virginia, earning the team their only points in the dual.
285 lbs (Extra Match): Jonathan Cox closed out the extra matches with a dominant pin over Averett's Johnatan Argueta in just 1:58, giving the Knights another win.
Notable Results
197 lbs: Jacob Jiminez (Averett) defeated Loyal Holm (SVU), TF 17-2 (4:29)
285 lbs: Braeden Fluke (Averett) pinned Porter Trapp (SVU) in 1:58
125 lbs: Dominic Pascoe (Averett) outlasted Matthew Papa (SVU), SV 11-8
133 lbs: AJ Orlando III (Averett) won by technical fall over Francisco Ramirez (SVU), TF 16-0 (1:52)
141 lbs: Wyatt Parker (Averett) pinned Richie Kulessa (SVU) in 2:02
In several closely contested matches, the Knights showed flashes of potential, including a gritty effort by Ikia Garcia (184 lbs), who narrowly fell to Nolan Gerwitz, 7-3, and a high-scoring battle at 165 lbs, where Noah James was defeated by major decision, 21-13, against Cooper Comer.
Cox's win at heavyweight was a highlight, while several other Knights put up strong fights in additional matches, including Sawyer Ferry (141 lbs), who lost a close 3-1 decision to Mauricio Reyes.
The Knights will aim to regroup and build on their performances after Thanksgiving as they continue through the ODAC schedule. They first head to an invite by St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, NC on December 7th before a Dual at Shenandoah on Wednesday the 11th.
With promising moments from athletes like Kinne and Cox, the team remains focused on improving and competing at a high level in upcoming matches.
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.
