Jul. 16th, Sam Braswell was named head wrestling coach for the Averett Cougars. After being a 3 time NCAA All-American for the Cougars in the past, he was the assistant coach for the Cougars. He has coached a 3 time All-American in Mason Barrett, 11 NCAA qualifiers, and countless ODAC All-Conference and multiple regional placers. Now his sights are on different things.

He was mentored by former head coach, Blake Roulo. They have known each other for a while, says Braswell. “We went to the same high school in Matoaca. He took me under his wing and the rest is history.” Roulo showed him how to coach but Braswell has put his own little twist on some things. 

Braswell had his mind set that he wouldn’t take the job at first. Nevertheless, when Roulo called him to tell him that he was leaving Averett, Braswell rose to the occasion. “Roulo always joked about me taking over his job, my answer was always ‘Absolutely not’,” says Braswell. 

The Averett Wrestling team faces off Ferrum College Nov. 6th. Ferrum College recently hired Blake Roulo as head wrestling coach and assistant Athletic Director. This dual will be an interesting match up between Master and Student. Braswell on the other hand doesn’t think he’s the student, “Blake has done a really good job here at Averett, he was here since the start. But I think I can do everything a little better than him,” Braswell stated. Good luck to Coach Braswell and Averett Wrestling on their upcoming season.