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Keric Jackson, Shenandoah

Wrestling

Sullivan Adds Exclamation Point to Roanoke's Season with MOP Honor at ODAC Wrestling Championships

Generals Win Five Weight-Class Titles, Maroons with Three, Cougars Claim Two

WINCHESTER, Va. --- Roanoke College 197-pound champion Brock Sullivan earned MOP honors to highlight the 2026 ODAC Wrestling Championships hosted by Shenandoah University on Saturday. This was the second time SU opened its James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center to the league's wrestling event, pairing this year's tournament with the inaugural championship following the return of the sport to the ODAC's ranks in 2023.

The Maroons topped the team standings by 7.5 points over Washington and Lee at 139.0-to-131.5. That put a cap on the nationally top-ranked Maroons fourth straight ODAC regular season championship. That run includes a joint title with Averett and WLU in 2023 and three straight solo championships the past three years.

For the second straight season, Washington and Lee earned the most event titles with five Generals atop podiums -- Vincent Ziccardi at 133, Skyler Hickman at 141, Evan Lindner at 149, Liam Flanagan at 157, and Carter Stack at 285. Roanoke won three weight classes -- Taven Williams at 165, Kyle Lee at 174, and Brock Sullivan at 197. Averett accounted for the remaining two first place finishes -- Adrian Samano at 125 and Khalil Mitchell at 184.

Sullivan, currently unranked by The Open Mat and the NWCA, received a bye through the first round before meeting Averett's Jacob Jimenez in the semifinals. Sullivan earned a 4-2 decision over Region 4's fourth-ranked competitor to advance to the final against WLU's John Santowski, who at one point was ranked nationally by both TOM and the NWCA before a midseason injury. Sullivan churned out a 4-3 decision over Santowski to claim the 197-pound crown.

ODAC wrestlers will now prepare for the NCAA Southeast Regionals slated for Friday and Saturday, February 27-28. Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, will serve as host of the event with league competitors looking to eclipse the 14 wrestlers that qualified for last season's Division III championships. This year's national event will be hosted at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday and Saturday, March 13-14.

All-ODAC awards are derived from placements at the ODAC Championships. Each weight class winner is considered All-ODAC First Team, while each runner-up earns All-ODAC Second Team recognition. Third place finishers receive All-ODAC Third Team distinction. Below are the top-three results at each weight class. The full slate of awards will be announced following the national championships.
  • 125 POUNDS
    • Championship: Adrian Samano (AU) def. Ryan Saunders (RC) by major decision (16-6)
    • 3rd Place: Jaton Welling (SVU) def. Elliot Rivera (SU) by technical fall (19-4, 5:32)
  • 133 POUNDS
    • Championship: Vincent Ziccardi (WLU) def. Michael Policarpio (RC) by decision (5-1)
    • 3rd Place: AJ Orlando III (AU) def. Anakin Burks (SU) by decision (6-0)
  • 141 POUNDS
    • Championship: Skyler Hickman (WLU def. Mitchell Johnson (GB) by decision (5-1)
    • 3rd Place: Sean Rinebolt (SU) def. Jake Yowell (RC) by decision (6-0)
  • 149 POUNDS
    • Championship: Evan Lindner (WLU) def. Jackson Rowling (RC) by sudden victory-1 (4-1)
    • 3rd Place: Landon Neal (AU) def. Noah Williams (RAND) by technical fall (15-0, 5:51)
  • 157 POUNDS
    • Championship: Liam Flanagan (WLU) def. Casey Smith (RC), by sudden victory-1 (4-1)
    • 3rd Place: Hunter Ballantine (SU) def. Carter Shupert (AU) by decision (12-8)
  • 165 POUNDS
    • Championship: Taven Williams (RC) def. Mark Troni (WLU) by fall (2:27)
    • 3rd Place: Cooper Comer (AU) def. Nicholas Menjivar (GB) by fall (2:36)
    174 POUNDS
    • Championship: Kyle Lee (RC) def. Jacob Wright (WLU) by decision (4-3)
    • 3rd Place: Michael Gabbard (AU) def. Ethan King (GB) by fall (0:26)
  • 184 POUNDS
    • Championship: Khalil Mitchell (AU) def. William Martin (RC) by decision (8-2)
    • 3rd Place: Harrison Hoopes (SVU) def. Daiveon Barlow (SU) by fall (6:26)
  • 197 POUNDS
    • Championship: Brock Sullivan (RC) def. John Santowski (WLU) by decision (4-3)
    • 3rd Place: Tradyn Henderson (SVU) def. Jacob Jimenez (AU) by fall (1:48)
  • 285 POUNDS
    • Championship: Carter Stack (WLU) def. Nicholas Cook (RC) by major decision (14-1)
    • 3rd Place: Carter Erickson (AU) def. Rives Hargis (SU) by technical fall (17-2, 7:00)