The Averett Men’s Wrestling team competed in the NCAA Championships in Providence Rhode Island, March 15th and 16th. The Cougars had 2 wrestlers competing, Mason Barrett, 125 pound senior, and Anthony Taylor, 157 pound senior. 

Barrett won 5 matches to take third place with his only loss coming to Johnson and Wales, Joziah Fry, 3 time NCAA Champion. 

“There were a lot of mixed emotions coming into this tournament,’ Barrett said. “It was my last ever wrestling tournament, I was excited, sad, and ready to be done with the sport all at the same time.”

“He is one of the greatest Averett wrestlers ever,” Blake Roulo, head coach at Averett University, said. “We are sad to see him go but happy to see him end his career on top and excited to see what he does in life going forward. 

Barrett is now a 2 time Regional Champion, 2 time ODAC Champion, and a 3 time NCAA DIII All-American, taking 6th in 2023, 5th in 2024, and 3rd in 2025.

Taylor represented the Cougars well, but was unable to make the podium.

“This wasn’t the way I wanted to go out in the sport but am very grateful for what this sport has given to me in life,” Taylor said. “I wanted to be an All-American, but some people never get the chance to do that, so for that I am Grateful.”

“I am going to miss him a lot,”Roulo said. “He was one of my favorite kids to coach here at Averett and he has made me a better coach, these two kids mean a lot to me.” 

Congratulations to Mason Barrett and Anthony Taylor on great careers.