Collegeville, Pa. – The Southern Virginia men's wrestling team took a break from conference action to compete at the Will Abele Invitational, hosted by Ursinus College, where they finished 10th overall. The Knights showcased their young talent, with multiple standout performances across various weight classes.
Matthew Papa (125 lbs – 6th place)
Papa advanced through the early rounds with a bye but faced a tough challenge against Joe Ramirez of Nassau Community College, falling by major decision 16-8. He rebounded in the consolation bracket with a fall victory and a decision win before ultimately finishing 6th.
Tyson Hoopes (174 lbs – 7th place)
Hoopes started his tournament with a strong showing, securing an early win by fall in 4:01. He faced stiff competition in the later rounds, dropping a match by major decision but fought back in the consolation bracket, ultimately claiming 7th place with a decision victory.
Britton Sorenson (197 lbs – 7th place)
Sorenson had a solid tournament run, beginning with a bye before a loss in the quarterfinals. He bounced back in the consolation rounds with a dominant fall victory in 1:24 and another win to clinch 7th place.
Noah James (165 lbs – 8th place)
James battled through a tough bracket, securing an early decision win but facing challenges in subsequent rounds, finishing 8th after a loss in the final placement match.
Additional Performances
Several Knights competed hard but fell short of podium finishes. Corbin Mecham (157 lbs), Richie Kulessa (141 lbs), and Jonathan Cox (285 lbs) fought through tough draws but were unable to place. Despite the challenges, their efforts contributed to the Knights' overall performance in the tournament.
Southern Virginia will now turn their attention back to ODAC competition as they prepare to host Washington and Lee University on Thursday, January 23rd, at 7:00 PM.
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
