CORBIN, Ky. – The University of Montevallo wrestling team shines in 2024-25 debut with 19 pins, eight placers and four top-three finishes at the Pepsi Open on Saturday, Nov. 2.
 
22 wrestlers represented the purple and gold across 11 weight classes in both the freshman/sophomore brackets and open brackets.
 
Freshman Sam Euceda-Torres earned the Falcons their first win of the 2024-25 season and their first win via a pin of the 2024-25 season as he took down Dylan Powell in 2:04.
 
Freshman Willie Cox, Nick Dempsey and Cole Sykes were the highest placing Falcons of the day. Willie Cox placed in second in the 285-weight class with four wins including a fall in 1:04 in the second round, a 21-6 tech fall, a 12-8 decision and a forfeit to advance him to the championship. Dempsey was just as impressive as he won four bouts by the way of an 11-5 decision, a 12-4 major decision, a pin in 4:57 and a 10-1 major decision to put him in the championship for the 149-weight class.
 
Sykes came out of the gates aggressive with a fall in nine seconds to start his collegiate career. He won by a 4-2 decision in the quarterfinal and won in overtime with a take down with eight seconds on the clock to make it to the championship in the 174-weight class.
 
Tournament Information
WHAT: Pepsi Open
WHERE: Corbin, KY
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 2
 
Individual Highlights

• Sam Euceda-Torres picked up the first win of the season for the Falcons with a fall in 2:04 over Dylan Powell from Southwestern Michigan.
• Noah Smith went 5-2 including three pins (3:46, 4:19, 4:45). Smith earned a fourth-place finish and 19 points.
• Kaden Brown won four bouts in the 141-weight class with two decisions, a tech fall and a fall in 2:26.
• Chad Strickland earned four wins on the day in the 141-weight class with a 17-2 tech fall, a 4-2 decision, a 5-1 decision and a win forfeit.
• Colton Sullivan collected his first win of the new season as he won by a 13-5 major decision against Linkyn Schardt of Thomas Moore.
• Nick Dempsey placed in second in the 149-weight class while going 4-1 on the day. Dempsey won by an 11-5 decision, a 12-4 and 10-1 major decision and he earn his first collegiate fall in 4:57.
• Preseason Conference Carolinas Wrestler to Watch, Carson Freeman, went 6-2 in his fourth-place finish. Freeman won his first bout of the day in a dominant 19-3 tech fall over Caden Whittaker of Brewton-Parker. He won by a pin in 4:50, a 16-1 tech fall, a fall in 1:34, a 21-6 tech fall and a medical forfeit.
• Aiden Knight picked up five wins and finished fourth in the 174-weight class. Knight won by a 17-1 tech fall, a 15-10 decision, two falls in 1:02 and 2:03 and a 16-3 major decision.
• Cole Sykes impressed in his debut as a Falcon with a 3-1 record and second-place finish. Sykes started his day with a nine second pin over Karro Jallow of Cornerstone. He followed that up with a 4-2 decision victory, then a sudden victory in overtime with a take down with eight seconds left.
• Savian Graham earned a third-place finish with four victories in the 184-weight class. Graham picked up his first two wins by the way of a 4:25 fall and a 5:16 fall. He added a victory by a 19-2 tech and a win by no contest.
• Baxter Hoffman went 2-2 with a fall in 2:10 and a major decision of 10-0. Hoffman competed in the 184-weight class.
• Dalton Wainwright earned two wins by the way of a 4:07 fall and a 13-8 decision.
• Rhett Walters collected two wins in the 184-weight class with two falls of 2:41 and 6:57.
• Willie Cox won his first match in the 285-weight class by a pin in 1:04. He won his next three consecutive by a 21-6 tech fall, a 12-8 decision and a forfeit.
• In the open 165-weight class, Jake Chisolm won four bouts today including a 15-0 tech fall, a 13-4 major decision, a two-minute pin and a medical forfeit.
• Jeffery Tubbs placed in sixth in the 197 open with four wins. Tubbs won by a 11-6 decision and three medical forfeits.

 
UP NEXT
The Falcons will next be in action on Wednesday, Nov. 6 for their first dual matches of the season as they take on No. 16 UNC Pembroke and Coker. The duals will take place at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court in Pembroke, N.C.