FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – The University of Montevallo wrestling team had a strong performance at the Georgia Open on Sunday, Nov. 8, earning seven top-five individual finishes and one seventh-place finish.
The Falcons were led by three third-place finishers, as Quentin Benjamin (125 pounds), Nytravious Walker (133 pounds) and Sam Euceda-Torres (285 pounds) each secured a spot on the podium.
Walker highlighted the afternoon with a 3-1 performance at 133 pounds in the Gold Division. He opened the tournament with a first-round victory by fall over Gable Hargrove in just 37 seconds. After dropping a 16-9 decision in the quarterfinals, Walker responded with consecutive victories in the consolation bracket. He defeated Reinhardt's Zac Bosken, 14-7, before earning a 10-5 decision over Caleb Wright of Life University NCWA in the third-place match.
Benjamin also earned a third-place finish at 125 pounds in the Silver Division. He advanced to the semifinals, where he faced John Adams of Brewton-Parker, before working his way into the third-place position. In the third-place match, Benjamin earned a 7-3 decision over Casey McElligott of Life University NCWA to secure his third-place finish.
At 285 pounds, Euceda-Torres secured another third-place finish for Montevallo in the Silver Division. He advanced through the championship bracket before competing in the consolation semifinals against Lincoln Memorial's Brady Comerford. Euceda-Torres then earned a 3-0 decision over Keiser's Roderick Jones in the third-place match to secure his podium finish.
Montevallo added two fourth-place finishes, with Dalton Wainwright placing fourth at 197 pounds and Talan McNutt finishing fourth at 165 pounds.
Wainwright advanced to the third-place match at 197 pounds, where he faced Lander's Jacob Hudgins. Hudgins defeated Wainwright by a 3-0 decision, giving the Montevallo wrestler a fourth-place finish. McNutt also reached the placement rounds at 165 pounds after competing in the championship semifinals against Lander's Wylan Damon. McNutt finished fourth after falling to Keiser's Noah Catala by a 17-3 major decision in the third-place match.
The Falcons added two more top-five performances, as Stone Staton and Hunter Smiley each finished fifth in their respective weight classes. Staton placed fifth at 133 pounds in the Silver Division, while Smiley earned fifth place at 184 pounds.
Luke Berguson rounded out Montevallo's individual placers with a seventh-place finish at 165 pounds in the Silver Division, giving the Falcons eight individual placements overall.
UP NEXT: Montevallo travels to Emory, Virginia, for a double dual against Emory & Henry and Bluefield State on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the First Bank & Trust Sportsplex. The match against Emory & Henry begins at 3 p.m., followed by the match against Bluefield State at 4:30 p.m.
