BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University men's wrestling team had three individuals recognized when the South Atlantic Conference Carolinas (SACC) announced their men's wrestling award winners on Friday.
Christian Small was selected SACC Freshman of the Year and second team all-conference while
Trent Mahoney earned first team honors.
Cade Ridley also garnered second team recognition.
Small has had a spectacular first season donning the scarlet and navy, posting a 9-2 record with two pins. The Canton, Ga. native has also earned two major decisions and one technical fall. In SACC matches, Small went 5-1, winning his final five SACC matches. Following that defeat in his first career match, Small rolled off nine straight victories, including an 11-2 major decision over top-ranked Isiah Royal of Newberry College. That win made Small an NCAA Division II Wrestling National Championships qualifier as he finished runner-up at the Super Region II Championships.
Mahoney, also a freshman, earned first team all-conference honors after completing an undefeated regular season. The Baton Rouge, La., native went 9-0 in the regular season with seven pins and one technical fall. Mahoney won all six of his SACC matches leading up to the Super Region II Championships. His lone loss of the season came due to an injury default in his first match at the Super Region II Championships.
Ridley garners second team All-SACC honors for the second straight season as he is an NCAA Division II Wrestling National Championships qualifier for the second consecutive year. The Lula, Ga., native missed time due to injury, but ended the season with a 5-2 record with four pins on the season. Ridley split a pair of SACC matches, and went 3-1 at the Super Region II Championships to take third and earn a spot in the national championships.
Small and Ridley will be in action on March 12-13 at the NCAA Division II Wrestling National Championships in St. Louis, Mo.
