FRANKLIN SPRINGS Ga. – The King University men's wrestling team traveled to Georgia this weekend to compete in the Super Region II Championship. Several wrestlers assembled good attempts, but Christian Small and Cade Ridley are the King wrestlers to advance this year to the national tournament. This year was especially difficult as only the top 2 wrestlers qualify for the tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- At 125 pounds Preston Soriano put in a great effort losing so closely to No.2 Zach Shupp from Newberry by score 4-3 in the first round. He went on to win two matches by decision in consolations but barely missed the consolation finals by score 1-0.
- Rylee Billings loses an extremely close match first round in overtime at 133 pounds. His consolation run began well as he won two matches by decision. He would ultimately lose in the consolation semi-finals by score 4-0.
- At 141 pounds Freshman Christian Small was the first wrestler of the Tornado to qualify for the national championship. He knocked off two opponents on the way by decision and major decision, including No. 1 Isiah Royal from Newberry. In the finals he put together a great effort but would lose 6-3 to No.3 Zachary Van Alst from Coker. He did not have a true second match as he had already defeated his opponent Royal, who wrestled all the way back to third place from his loss to Small.
- Freshman Trent Mahoney had a stellar run this season but unfortunately injury defaulted out of the tournament in the first round at 149 pounds. He was the first seed and undefeated this year.
- Dallas Boone picked up a major decision first round but then lost a close decision 9-8 to an eventual national qualifier at 157 pounds. He would then fall to the eventual third place finisher.
- At 165 pounds Logan Perkins started strong with a 7-1 win by decision. He would then lose in the quarter-finals to No.1 John Dean of Belmont Abbey by score 11-6. He regained strong footing in consolations with a win by technical fall and then a gut wrenching overtime win. In the consolation semi-finals he would come up short by decision to No.3 Corey Christie from Coker by score 4-2.
- Josh Wynn fell to No.2 Caleb Spears, the eventual champion first round at 174 pounds. He would then lose 8-0 in consolations.
- At 184 pounds Dalton Pearl also found the eventual champ first round and fell in the first period. He had a close match in consolations but would lose by score 3-1.
- Charles Swigget picked up a nice first round decision but struggled against No.1 Darius Parker from Lander. He then fell in the first round of consolation.
- At 285 pounds Cade Ridley won his first round by fall, but then fell to No.3 Cameron Coffman of Lander in the semi-finals. He then tore through the consolations for third and ultimately received one of five wild card spots for another Tornado bid to the national tournament.
125 - Preston Soriano 2-2
133 - Rylee Billings 2-2
141 - Christian Small 2-1, 2nd, national qualifier
149 - Trent Mahoney, injury default
165 - Logan Perkins, 3-2
174 - Josh Wynn, 0-2
197 - Charles Swigget, 1-2
285 - Cade Ridley 3-1, 3rd, national qualifier
UP NEXT
- March 12-13 the men's wrestling team travel to St. Louis, Mo. to compete in the NCAA Division II National Championship.
