The Panther’s wrestling team competed this past Friday and Saturday at the NCAA DIII Southeast Regional, hosted by Lycoming College. The Panthers placed 10th in a field of 22 teams.

Two Panther wrestlers qualified for the NCAA Division III National Wrestling Tournament, juniors Zach Beckner (133 lbs) and Rayshawn Dixon (285), by virtue of a top-three placement at the Southeast Regional for both men.

For both Beckner and Dixon, this will be a second shot at the NCAA national titile. Beckner qualified in 2017, closing his rookie season as an All-American with a national runner-up finish. Dixon qualified fin 2023, which the Panthers hosted at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, and was one win shy of an All-America finish.

Dixon extended his win streak to 31 matches with four wins over two days, capping the weekend with a regional crown. Dixon is a perfect 31-0 this season and currently ranked #3 in the nation among big men in the 285-pound weight class. He was the top seed this weekend, picking up a pin, two major decisions, and a 7-4 win over Averett University’s Trent Ragland in the finals. This is Dixon’s fifth tournament title this season.

Beckner opened the tournament with a pin and a major decision before losing a tight 4-2 match to top seed Jacob Blair of Delaware Valley University in the semifinals. He posted a major decision in the consolation semifinals, then scored a reversal with seven seconds remaining in regulation to beat Roanoke College’s Jude Robson 7-5 in the third-place match, punching his ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

Adrian Samano, sophomore, (125) placed sixth for the Panthers, reaching the semifinals, where he lost 8-1 to top seed Mac Cafurello of Roanoke. In the consolations, he dropped a major decision, then fell 5-2 to Alvernia University’s Keito Shaw in the fifth-place match.

Mateo Villalobos, sophomore, (165) and Franklin Melton, freshman, (174) each won a pair of matches this weekend before being eliminated. Villalobos added a tech fall to his season total, while Melton added two pins.

Panther Wrestlers by weight class

125: Adrian Samano 2-3, (pin) 6th place

Champ. Round 2–Adrian Samano (Ferrum) won by fall over Daniel Verscharen (W&J) (0:35)

Quarterfinal–Adrian Samano (Ferrum) won by decision over Akhil Vega (Stevens) (14-10)

Semifinal–Mac Cafurello (Roanoke) won by decision over Adrian Samano (Ferrum) (8-1)

Cons. Semi–Kaden Majcher (Lycoming) won by major decision over Adrian Samano (Ferrum) (15-5)

5th Place Match–Keito Shaw (Alvernia) 4-2 won by decision over Adrian Samano (Ferrum) (5-2)

133: Beckner 4-1 (pin, 2 majors) 3rd place

Champ. Round 2–Beckner (Ferrum) won by fall over Asa Brunk (Messiah) (1:50)

Quarterfinal–Beckner (Ferrum) won by major decision over Evan Whiteside (Thiel) (15-6)

Semifinal–Jacob Blair (Delaware Valley) won by decision over Zach Beckner (Ferrum) (4-2)

Cons. Semi–Beckner (Ferrum) won by major decision over Cole Neil (Penn State Behrend) (12-1)

3rd Place Match–Beckner (Ferrum) won by decision over Jude Robson (Roanoke) (7-5)

141: Jonathan Ward 1-2

Champ. Round 1 – Nico Diaz (Stevens) won by tech fall over Jonathan Ward (Ferrum) (4:07, 20-3)

Cons. Round 2 – Jonathan Ward (Ferrum) won by medical forfeit over Noah Clawson (King`s)

Cons. Round 3 – Hunter Swedish (W&J) won by major decision over Jonathan Ward (Ferrum) (14-2)

149: Joseph Olalde 0-2

Champ. Round 1 – Taylor Smith (Washington & Jefferson) won by fall over Joseph Olalde (Ferrum) (3:53)

Cons. Round 2 – Peyton Hearn (Penn State Behrend) won in sudden victory – 1 over Joseph Olalde (Ferrum) (4-1) 

157: Tyler Ramirez 0-2

Champ. Round 1 – Gavin Pascoe (Gettysburg) won by decision over Tyler Ramirez (Ferrum) (5-4)

Cons. Round 2 – Tallion Elliott (Marymount) won by decision over Tyler Ramirez (Ferrum) (12-11)

165: Mateo Villalobos 2-2 (TF)

Champ. Round 1 – Mateo Villalobos (Ferrum) won by decision over Julian Schott (Marymount) (12-8)

Champ. Round 2 – Adam Coleman (Delaware Valley) won by fall over Mateo Villalobos (Ferrum) (5:52)

Cons. Round 2 – Mateo Villalobos (Ferrum) won by tech fall over Jacob Wilson (Waynesburg) (5:00, 18-1)

Cons. Round 3 – Jalen Cornelius (Shenandoah) won by decision over Mateo Villalobos (Ferrum) (7-6)

174: Franklin Melton 2-2 (2 pins)

Champ. Round 1 – Franklin Melton (Ferrum) won by fall over Sean Banks (Washington & Jefferson) (3:45)

Champ. Round 2 – Khalil Mitchell (Averett) won by tech fall over Franklin Melton (Ferrum) (2:25, 18-0)

Cons. Round 2 – Franklin Melton (Ferrum) won by fall over Connor Hoefling (Gettysburg) (6:30)

Cons. Round 3 – Logan Bechtold (St. Vin) won by major decision over Franklin Melton (Ferrum) (12-0)

184: Joseph Toner 0-2

Champ. Round 2 – Christopher Nuss (Wilkes) won by decision over Joseph Toner (Ferrum) (9-4)

Cons. Round 3 – Jessie Orbin (Waynesburg) won by decision over Joseph Toner (Ferrum) (4-3)

197: Ethan Fragoso 0-2

Champ. Round 2 – Gable Crebs (Lycoming) won by tech fall over Ethan Fragoso (Ferrum) (3:07, 16-1)

Cons. Round 3 – Phil Nave (Gettysburg) won by fall over Ethan Fragoso (Ferrum) (1:09)

285: Dixon 4-0 (pin, 2 majors) 1st place

Champ. Round 2–Dixon (Ferrum) won by major decision over Simon Taylor (Gettysburg) (9-0)

Quarterfinal–Dixon (Ferrum) won by major decision over Jake Beistel (St. Vin) (15-2)

Semifinal–Dixon (Ferrum) won by fall over Caleb Burkhart (Wilkes) (2:02)

1st Place Match–Dixon (Ferrum) won by decision over Trent Ragland (Averett) (7-4)

Head Coach Logan Meister will accompany Beckner and Dixon to the 2024 NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championships to be held Fri., and Sat., March 15-16, at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.