The Match Facts:
Score: (No. 12) Roanoke 22, Averett 12
Location: Danville, Va.

The Short story: The Roanoke College wrestling team defeated Averett University Thursday evening 22-12 to capture the 2023-24 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championship, the program's second in just three years of varsity status. 

The Maroons (13-3/6-0 ODAC) won five of the first six weight classes to build a 19-3 lead and held on for the dual match victory. Roanoke claimed a share of the conference crown last season, splitting the title with Averett and Washington & Lee University. RC moved up to No. 12 this week in the latest Division III team dual poll by Openmat.com. 

How it happened:
*Mark Samuel (ranked no. 14 this week in NCAA Division III by the Openmat.com) earned a 15-0 technical fall victory at 141 and Jude Robson (No. 15) and Jacob Cherry each won major decisions at 133 and 165 pounds, respectively. Mac Cafurello (No. 11) started the dual off with a 3-2 win in a tiebreaker at 125 over Mason Barnett (No. 6) and Andrew McDougal won 9-2 at 165.

*Averett won decision victories at 174 and 184 but Lorenzo Pellot clinched the match and the team title with a 5-4 upset of Jamar Christian (No. 10) at 197.

Up Next:
*The Maroons will return to Danville on Saturday, February 17 for the 2024 ODAC Championships, to determine the individual champions in each weight class.  

Complete Results
Roanoke 22, Averett 12
125: Mac Cafurello (Roa) over Mason Barrett (AVE) (TB-2 3-2)
133: Jude Robson (Roa) over AJ Orlando (AVE) (MD 15-3)
141: Mark Samuel (Roa) over Mauricio Reyes (AVE) (TF 15-0 3:26)
149: Jesse Alvarado (AVE) over Zachary Turner (Roa) (Dec 8-3)
157: Andrew McDougal (Roa) over Xavier Swanson (AVE) (Dec 9-2)
165: Jacob Cherry (Roa) over Anthony Taylor (AVE) (MD 15-7)
174: Khalil Mitchell (AVE) over Xavier Preston (Roa) (Dec 9-6)
184: George Moseley (AVE) over Vincenzo Corvetto (Roa) (Dec 7-1) 
197: Lorenzo Pellot (Roa) over Jamar Christian (AVE) (Dec 5-4)
 285: Trent Ragland (AVE) over Brady Elswick (Roa) (Dec 4-0)