MARIETTA, Ga. - The Trojans delivered several strong performances across both divisions, highlighted by three podium finishes—two in the Gold Division and one champion in the Silver Division — at the Lucha Open hosted by Life University.

In the Silver Division, Nicholas Rogers put together a dominant tournament to claim the 285-pound championship. Rogers powered through his bracket with five straight victories, highlighted by a major decision over Devin Dudley (Life NCWA) in the semifinals and a commanding 18-2 tech fall against Lindsey Wilson's Zachery Chapman in the championship bout.

At 149 pounds, Gable Pauole delivered an impressive run to finish fourth overall, stringing together a series of dominant wins throughout the tournament. Pauole opened his day with a 12-0 major decision over Hassan Ali (Lindsey Wilson) before pinning Arthur Reed (Brewton-Parker) in 4:17. He continued his momentum with an 18-3 tech fall against Montevallo's Garlin Tate and a 17-0 tech fall over Abass Ben Diaby (Kennesaw State). After a tough tech fall loss to eventual finalist Armand Williams (Gladiator Wrestling Club) and advancing via bye against Williams Baptist's Saaverda, Pauole closed the event with a hard-fought bout against Adriel Pina (Central Florida) to secure a strong fourth-place finish.

In the Gold Division, Cole Hivnor battled his way to a sixth-place finish at 174 pounds, stringing together an impressive four-match winning stretch. His run included a dominant tech fall over Keiser's Ronald Butler and an overtime victory against No. 12 Braylin Ruchti of Southern Oregon. Hivnor added another win by medical forfeit over No. 19 Ty Rodriguez before his run ended in the placement round.

Also placing in the Gold bracket, Jack Mackiernan claimed sixth place at 184 pounds. After a first-round bye, he opened with a pin in just 1:15 over Spencer Fields (Truett-McConnell) and added key decision victories over Southern Oregon's Ethan Miller and Southeastern's Tyler Hanna by major decision to secure his podium finish.

At heavyweight, Slade Calhoun earned a fourth-place finish at 285 pounds, winning three straight nail-biters to reach the semifinals. Calhoun edged opponents from UNC Pembroke, Truett-McConnell, and Cumberlands—all by one point or in sudden victory—before dropping his final two matches, including one to No. 11 Austin Silva of Cumberlands.

The tournament delivered a championship-caliber field, featuring No. 2 Lander and multiple NCAA Division II teams receiving votes, alongside a stacked NAIA lineup highlighted by No. 2 Life, No. 3 Southeastern, No. 6 Campbellsville, No. 7 Southern Oregon, and No. 10 Cumberland (Tenn.).

With additional ranked programs like No. 24 Lindsey Wilson and several others receiving votes, the event showcased one of the deepest and most
competitive fields Mount Olive will face this season.

The Trojans' strong outing was anchored by these podium performances, showcasing depth across multiple weights as they continue to build momentum early in the season. Mount Olive hosts Ferrum on Dec. 4 in their next competition in a home conference dual..

GOLD DIVISION

141 - Logan Tortual

• W, Tech. Fall 18-2 vs Joshua Henry (Lucha RTC)
• L, Dec. 7-5 vs Matthew Velasco (Montevallo)
• L, Maj. Dec 14-3 vs Louis MeHaffey (Montreat)

141 - Jeffery Richards

• W, Fall (1:08) vs Jerry Molina (St. Thomas)
• L, Tech Fall 15-0 vs Zander Phaturos (Campbell)
• W, Tech Fall 19-3 vs Isaac Hall (Truett-McConnell)
• L, Fall (3:43) vs TJ Meyer (Campbellsville)

157 - Christian Orozco

• BYE
• L, Tech Fall 15-0 Justin Krebs (Southeastern)
• W, Med. For vs Carson Freeman (Montevallo)
• L, Fall (3:30) vs Mackandle Freeman (Rio Grande)

174 - Cole Hivnor - Sixth place

• W, Dec 7-4 vs Thomas Karlo (Cumberland)
• L, Dec 7-3 vs no. 19th Ty Rodriquez (Southeastern)
• W, Dec 2-1 vs Sean Crews (Lander)
• W, Tech Fall 20-5 vs Ronald Butler (Keiser)
• W, Dec. 4-1 SV vs no. 12th ranked Braylin Ruchti (Southern Oregon)
• W, Med. For. vs no. 19 Ty Rodriguez (Southern Oregon)
• L, No contest vs no. 23 Nathan Bukovich (Reinhardt)

184 - Nicholas Mascolino

• BYE
• L, Fall (0:32) vs No. 12 Sam Libby (Keiser)
• L, Dec 9-8 vs Savian Graham (Unattached Montevallo)

184 - Jack Mackiernan - Sixth Place

• BYE
• W, Fall (1:15) vs Spencer Fields (Truett-McConnell)
• L, Dec 7-2 vs No. 5 Tre Morrisette (Life)
• W, Dec 5-4 vs Ethan Miller (Southern Oregon)
• W, Maj. Dec. 11-1 vs Tyler Hanna (Southeastern)
• L, For. vs NO. 13 Cory Cannan (Lindsey Wilson)

197 - Mekhi Linton

• BYE
• L, Fall (0:45) vs Connor Maslanek (Campbell)
• L, Fall (5:38) vs No. 24 Jett MCCauley (Keiser)

197 - Nathan Hampton

• BYE
• L, Dec 8-1 vs no. 3 Gentry Smith (Southeastern)
• W, Dec 9-3 vs Brandon Lively (Brewton-Parker)
• W, Tech Fall 17-1 vs Keondre Bonner (Montreat)

285 - Slade Calhoun - Fourth Place

• W, Dec 3-2 vs Chad Metikosh (UNC Pembroke Unattached)
• W, Dec 2-1 SV vs Phillip Terrell (Truett-McConnell)
• W, Dec. 2-1 vs Trey White (Cumberlands)
• L, Dec. 7-1 vs No. 11 Austin SIlva (Cumberlands)
• L, Tech Fall 16-0 Ryan Krimpelbein (Life NCWA)

285 - John Domencic

• L, Dec. 4-0 Miguel Perez (Lindsey Wilson)
• L, Med. For. Justin Tripp (Southern Oregon)

SILVER DIVISION

125 - Luke Green

• BYE
• W, Fall (2:29) vs Corey Dye (Andrew)
• W, Maj Dec. 18-7 vs Jalen Fyffe (Liberty)
• L, Maj. Dec. 12-4 vs Timothy Mclean (Brewton-Parker)
• L, Dec. 13-11 vs Wyatt Payne (Georgetown)

125 - Ian Whitt

• BYE
• L, Fall (1:52) vs Brandon Didat (Pike)
• L, Maj Dec 16-5 vs Elijah England (Andrew)

133 - Cole Hunt

• BYE
• L, Tech Fall 17-1 vs Jeremiah Chinyere-okiyi (WVU Tech)
• W, Tech Fall 19-3 vs Jeffery Messner (Brewton-Parker)
• W, Tech Fall 18-3 vs Jayden DeHart (Rio Grande)
• L, Fall (1:04) vs Carson Griffey (Reinhardt)

149 - Corey Fazekas

• BYE
• L, Tech Fall 17-1 vs Brock Gunnels (Reinhardt)
• W, Fall (2:15) vs Ronald Fowlkes (Andrew)
• W, Dec 8-7 vs Andrew Sanchez (Brewton-Parker)
• W, Maj. Dec. 11-2 vs Peter Williams (Mount Olive)
• L, Tech Fall 22-7 vs Arthur Reed (Brawton-Parker)

149 - Peter Williams

• BYE
• W, Dec 4-0 vs Evan Mcghee (Lindsey Wilson)
• L, Tech Fall (4:06) vs Christian Knuckles (Liberty)
• L, Maj. Dec. 11-2 vs Corey Fazekas (Mount Olive)

149 - Gable Pauole - Fourth Place

• W, Maj. Dec. 12-0 vs Hassan Ali (Lindsey Wilson)
• W, Fall (4:17) vs Arthur Reed (Brawton-Parker)
• W, Tech Fall 18-3 vs Garlin Tate (Montevallo)
• W, Tech Fall 17-0 vs Abass Ben Diaby (Kennesaw State)
• L, Tech Fall 17-1 vs Armand WIlliams (Gladiator Wrestling Club)
• BYE, vs Saaverda (Williams Baptist)
• L, Tech Fall 17-2 vs Adriel Pina (Central Florida)

157 - Benjamin Taylor

• BYE
• L, Maj Dec. 10-2 vs Alec Fahlbusch (Mount Vernon)
• L, Fall (0:19) vs Malachi Riley (Andrew)

157 - Orin Lee

• BYE
• L, Tech Fall 17-2 vs Lucas Boecker (Keiser)
• L, Fall (1:25) vs Anthony Saget (Liberty)

165 - Cameron HUnt

• BYE
• W, Fall (4:27) vs Creed Williams (Lindsey Wilson)
• L, Dec For. vs Andrew Yeats (Huntongdon)
• L, Dec 9-3 vs Jack Mathieu (Montreat)

165 - Braden Reynolds

• BYE
• L, Tech Fall 16-0 vs Shannon Fray (WVU Tech)
• L, Maj. Dec. 13-3 vs David Washington (Brewton-Parker)

184 - Wyatt Goff

• BYE
• L, Fall (1:55) vs JT Spence (Lander)
• W, Fall (2:27) vs Fabio Perez-Ieguizamo (St. Thomas)
• W, Dec 7-3 vs Matthew Cael Green (Georgetown)
• L, Fall (1:01) vs Josue Mendoza (Emmanuel)
  
   

285 - Nicholas Rogers - FIRST PLACE

• BYE
• W, Dec 5-2 vs Austin Presley (Montevallo)
• W, Dec. 10-6 vs Logan Hall (Huntingdon)
• W, Dec. 5-1 vs Adams Turpin-Abdulrazaaq (WVU Tech)
• W, Maj. Dec. 15-5 vs Devin Dudley (Life NCWA)
• W, Tech Fall 18-2 vs Zachery Chapman (Lindsey WIlson)