Averett University’s wrestling team went out with a bang in the 2024 season as they slimbed their way to the top to finish second in the ODAC, but their season was far from over. The team wrestled their way through the ODAC tournament to come out on top.
With winning the tournament the team took four wrestlers including Mason Barret, Jesse Alvarado, Jahlil Mitchell, George Moseley, Trent Ragland, and Anthony Taylor.
“It’s big news whenever you’re having a conversation with someone from Wabash, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Wisconsin-La Crosse, or Johnson & Wales University. I’m happy for the boys. It was a significant program success. I believe that as a staff and as a program, we turned the corner. Right now, our guys are at their best. In national qualifying, we were in the lead for the whole Southeast Region. That is very significant. Amazingly, we are sending so many individuals to lead it over a historically significant program like Stevens or one that is excellent like Alvernia.” Head Coach Blake Roulo said.
On day one of the National Championship Tournament Mason Barrett pulled through as the only Cougar to make it to day two with an overall team record of 6-10.
“Last year my head wasn’t in the right place, I still wanted to win but I didn’t want it enough.” Junior wrestler Mason Barret said. “This year I’ve been doing the right things on and off the mat, so I knew I could get it done.”
Barrett’s two victories on Friday moved him into Saturday’s national semifinals. He was eliminated from the finals after losing a close 5-3 match, and he suffered a heartbreaking double-overtime loss in the consolation semifinals, but he concluded his season with a victory in the fifth-place match.
“I wasn’t in the right head space and I got killed that match last year,” Barrett said. “This year I wasn’t going out like that. It’s obviously not where I wanted to be, but I’m glad I didn’t go out on a loss and ended the season right.”
The Team ended the season on a positive note. With a lot of members of the team returning as well as the return of Mason Barret, the Cougars are going into the 2025 season with their heads high and their eyes set on the prize.
