Results
BLUEFIELD, W. Va. (Nov. 6) – In the first competition of the 2024-25 campaign, the Trojans delivered a decisive 37-15 win at Bluefield State behind seven victories in Conference Carolinas action on Wednesday night.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive men's wrestling program improves to 1-0 overall after being selected fifth in the preseason league poll. It marked the first meeting between the teams in program history as Bluefield State enters its second year as an affiliate member in men's wrestling. Meanwhile, the Big Blue falls to 0-1 this season and was voted 14th in the Conference Carolinas rankings.
Bluefield State established a 6-0 advantage following a fall in the 125-weight class. Freshman
Eli Pendergrass answered with a 25-9 tech fall at 133 in his first collegiate match before fellow freshman
Benjamin Hernandez (141) earned a critical 5-4 decision over Moses Eads to capture an 8-6 edge. The Big Blue countered with another fall at 149, but Mount Olive answered with five-straight wins. In the 157-weight class, senior
Jake Nicolosi secured a first-round pin against Kairyn Hall.
Brent Nicolosi (165),
Logan Haseley (174), and
Raife Smart (197) all won via forfeit while
Calan Staub earned a 16-1 tech fall to extend the lead to 37-12. Bluefield State secured a heavyweight 4-2 decision victory to finish the event, as Mount Olive claimed a 37-15 win.
The Trojans will enter their first open competition this weekend at the Georgia Open on Sunday, Nov. 10, starting at 9 a.m.
Match Results
125: Larry Rhodes (Bluefield State) over
Christian Decatur (Mount Olive) (Fall 3:31)
133:
Eli Pendergrass (Mount Olive) over Stephen Exum (Bluefield State) (TF 25-9)
141:
Benjamin Hernandez (Mount Olive) over Moses Eads (Bluefield State) (Dec 11-7)
149: Enrique Sanchez (Bluefield State) over
Shayden Edwards (Mount Olive) (Fall 3:12)
157:
Jake Nicolosi (Mount Olive) over Kairyn Hall (Bluefield State) (Fall 2:39)
165:
Brent Nicolosi (Mount Olive) wins by forfeit
174:
Logan Haseley (Mount Olive) wins by forfeit
184:
Calan Staub (Mount Olive) over Thomas Dolo (Bluefield State) (TF 16-1)
197:
Raife Smart (Mount Olive) wins by forfeit
285: Gregory Dennard (Bluefield State) over
Slade Watkins (Mount Olive) (Dec 4-2)
