GREENWOOD, SC– The University of Mount Olive men's wrestling program competed at the NCAA Division II Super Regional II Championships on Saturday, battling the region's top programs in pursuit of national qualification.
The Trojans finished sixth overall in the team standings with 65.5 total points, earning key victories throughout the day against some of the Southeast Region's top competition. Mount Olive was able to bring ten of its top athletes to such stiff competition and show why they absolutely belong at that level and even further beyond. 
At 157, Brent Nicolosi turned in one of the top performances of the tournament. He opened in strong form against Fogus, winning 14-5 MD.  He then tacked on two massive wins against Keegan Roberson and Joe Bertrand to head to the championship match.  He then proceeded to win over Reid Noble with a 8-5 decision to claim first place at the Regional level. 
Jack Mackiernan made a strong run at 184, starting off with a bye before losing to Jeff Tubbs in the second round.  He then began work by earning a 3-2 decision over John Parker-Wilson (Newberry) and a fall against Nahzir Turner (Shorter) in 4:20. He added Quintez Shipman (UNC Pembroke), including a 7-4 sudden victory win, before winning in a tight 2-0 decision bout to Tubbs later in the third place match.
At 285, Slade Watkins secured three wins, including a 15-2 major decision over Chandler Allen (Allen) and a quick 13-second fall against Kobe Pablo (Emmanuel). He also earned a 4-3 decision over Hunter Miller (Coker).
Raife Smart (197) recorded a major decision over Kaden Gadson (Allen) and pinned Jackson Buck (UNC Pembroke) in 3:22. Brock Christian (133) posted a pair of wins, including a major decision over Max Meredith (Shorter). Hunter Newell (149) added two decision victories, while Benjamin Hernandez (141) and Cole Hivnor (174) each earned wins in their respective brackets.
Mount Olive concludes regional competition and now looks to the national level with their two qualifiers.  Nationals take place in Sioux Falls, SD on Mar. 13-14.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
125
Champ. Round 1 – Zach Bellissimo (Mount Olive) received a bye
Champ. Round 2 – Zach Bellissimo (Mount Olive) received a bye
Quarterfinal – Cooper Davis (UNC Pembroke) over Zach Bellissimo (Mount Olive) (TF 16-1, 3:48)
Cons. Round – Cole Hunt (Montevallo) over Zach Bellissimo (Mount Olive) (Fall 1:18)
133
Champ. Round – Brock Christian (Mount Olive) over Spencer Reep (Lincoln Memorial) (Dec 4-1)
Quarterfinal – Brock Christian (Mount Olive) over Max Meredith (Shorter) (MD 14-5)
Semifinal – Elijah Carrington (Belmont Abbey) over Brock Christian (Mount Olive) (MD 10-2)
Cons. Round – Caiden Pelc (Newberry) over Brock Christian (Mount Olive) (Fall 3:29)
141
Champ. Round – Benjamin Hernandez (Mount Olive) over Ashtan Hendricks (King) (Dec 7-2)
Quarterfinal – Benjamin Hernandez (Mount Olive) received a bye
Semifinal – Kaden Brown (Montevallo) over Benjamin Hernandez (Mount Olive) (For.)
Cons. Round – Luke Kunath (Belmont Abbey) over Benjamin Hernandez (Mount Olive) (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round – Brayden Gibson (Shorter) over Benjamin Hernandez (Mount Olive) (MD 8-0)
149
Champ. Round – Hunter Newell (Mount Olive) over Quincy Gash (Allen) (Dec 8-3)
Quarterfinal – Hunter Newell (Mount Olive) received a bye
Semifinal – Hunter Newell (Mount Olive) over Jose Gutierrez (Lincoln Memorial) (Dec 5-0)
Cons. Round – Skyler Caban (Belmont Abbey) over Hunter Newell (Mount Olive) (MD 13-0)
Cons. Round – Isham Peace (Lander) over Hunter Newell (Mount Olive) (TF 15-0, 4:45)
Cons. Round – Avery Buonocore (UNC Pembroke) over Hunter Newell (Mount Olive) (Dec 6-2)
157
Champ. Round – Brent Nicolosi (Mount Olive) over Reid Noble (Lander) (Dec 8-5)
Quarterfinal – Brent Nicolosi (Mount Olive) over Keegan Roberson (UNC Pembroke) (Dec 7-4)
Semifinal – Brent Nicolosi (Mount Olive) over Joe Bertrand (King) (MD 9-0)
Cons. Final – Brent Nicolosi (Mount Olive) over Jonathan Fogus (Shorter) (MD 14-5)
165
Champ. Round – Christian Orozco (Mount Olive) received a bye
Quarterfinal – Nate Stratton (Emmanuel) over Christian Orozco (Mount Olive) (TF 16-1, 5:47)
Cons. Round – Cumberland Kines (Shorter) over Christian Orozco (Mount Olive) (TF 23-6, 4:39)
174
Champ. Round – Cole Hivnor (Mount Olive) received a bye
Quarterfinal – Cole Hivnor (Mount Olive) over Jerrel Baskins (Allen) (Dec 9-3)
Semifinal – Christian Arrington (Belmont Abbey) over Cole Hivnor (Mount Olive) (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round – Nick Williams (UNC Pembroke) over Cole Hivnor (Mount Olive) (Dec 6-3)
184
Champ. Round – Jack Mackiernan (Mount Olive) over John Parker-Wilson (Newberry) (Dec 3-2)
Quarterfinal – Jack Mackiernan (Mount Olive) over Nahzir Turner (Shorter) (Fall 4:20)
Semifinal – Jack Mackiernan (Mount Olive) over Jeffery Tubbs (Montevallo) (Dec 2-0)
Cons. Round – Jack Mackiernan (Mount Olive) over Quintez Shipman (UNC Pembroke) (Dec 7-4 SV)
Cons. Round – Jack Mackiernan (Mount Olive) received a bye
3rd Place Match   Jack Mackiernan (Mount Olive) over Jeffery Tubbs (Montevallo) –  (Dec 5-2 SV)
197
Champ. Round – Raife Smart (Mount Olive) over Kaden Gadson (Allen) (MD 8-0)
Quarterfinal – Raife Smart (Mount Olive) over Jackson Buck (UNC Pembroke) (Fall 3:22)
Semifinal – Caleb Moore (Belmont Abbey) over Raife Smart (Mount Olive) (MD 15-5)
Cons. Round – Armond Jones (Shorter) over Raife Smart (Mount Olive) (Dec 2-1)
5th Place Match – Jackson Buck (UNC Pembroke) over Raife Smart (Mount Olive) (For.)
285
Champ. Round – Slade Watkins (Mount Olive) over Chandler Allen (Allen) (MD 15-2)
Quarterfinal – Slade Watkins (Mount Olive) over Kobe Pablo (Emmanuel) (Fall 0:13)
Semifinal – Slade Watkins (Mount Olive) over Hunter Miller (Coker) (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Round – Isaac Sheeren (Lander) over Slade Watkins (Mount Olive) (MD 10-0)
Cons. Round – James Banlston (UNC Pembroke) over Slade Watkins (Mount Olive) (Dec 10-4)