Winchester, Va. — The Southern Virginia University men's wrestling team competed at the 2026 ODAC Wrestling Championships, finishing fifth overall with a team score of 77 points and seven top-five individual finishes.

The Knights were led by strong performances across the lineup, highlighted by third-place finishes from Jaton Wellington (125), Harrison Hoopes (184), and Tradyn Henderson (197). Wellington rebounded from a narrow semifinal loss to dominate the consolation bracket, earning a technical fall in the third-place match. Hoopes and Henderson each secured third place with decisive falls, combining for 29.5 team points.

Henderson delivered one of the tournament's standout performances for Southern Virginia, recording three falls on his way to a third-place finish and scoring a team-high 16.5 points. Hoopes followed closely with 13 points, showcasing consistency and power through the backside of the bracket.

Several Knights added valuable depth points with fifth-place finishes, including Porter Kinne (141), Richie Kulessa (149), Tanner Giatras (174), and Marc Richardson (285). Kinne and Kulessa each closed their tournaments with hard-fought decision wins, while Giatras and Richardson sealed their placements with falls.

Wyatt Kinne (165) and Talon Whicker (133) also contributed, each placing sixth, while the Knights continued to gain postseason experience throughout the middle weights.

With the conference championships complete, Southern Virginia now turns its attention to postseason competition. The Knights will take a short break before traveling to Ada, Ohio, for the NCAA Region IV Tournament on Friday and Saturday, February 27–28.

For the most up-to-date information on Southern Virginia University wrestling, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_wrestling on Instagram.