The No. 3 SEU Wrestling team opened its 2025-26 season with a powerful statement, capturing the team title at the Patriot Open in Corbin, Kentucky, on Saturday before stepping up to face elite NCAA Division I programs at the Southeast Open in Salem, Virginia, on Sunday. The two-day stretch showcased both SEU's depth across its roster and its readiness to contend at a national level once again.
At the Patriot Open, the Fire piled up 289 team points—nearly 100 more than second-place Montevallo (194)—to outpace a competitive field that featured multiple ranked NAIA opponents. Among the top five were No. 5 Campbellsville (187.5), No. 11 Marian (184), and No. 8 Cumberlands (162), giving Southeastern a decisive victory over some of the NAIA's most established programs.
The Fire placed 14 wrestlers in the top four of their respective brackets, led by freshman
Husam Mustafa, who went 5-0 to claim the 174-pound Freshman Division title in his collegiate debut. SEU also earned runner-up finishes from
Raymond Cavey (149 – Open),
Xavier Barnhart (165 – Freshman),
Derek Washington (184 – Freshman), and
John Roberts (197 – Open), each posting at least four victories on the day.
Depth was the difference for Southeastern, as
Jaxon Mackey (149),
Ty Rodriguez (174),
Jonathan Vanderbilt (184), and
Ralph Sanchez (197) all took third place in the Open Division. Christopher Dinsdale (133 – Freshman), Joseph Hutchins (141 – Open),
Justin Krebs (157 – Open), and
August Batson (184 – Open) rounded out the medalists with fourth-place finishes. In total, 20 Fire wrestlers won multiple matches as SEU displayed both dominance and balance throughout the roster.
Just 24 hours later, Southeastern shifted gears to face a new level of opposition at the Southeast Open, featuring a field loaded with NCAA Division I talent from programs such as Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Maryland, West Virginia, Appalachian State, and Minnesota. The meet provided SEU's top-ranked wrestlers a valuable measuring stick against some of the nation's best.
At 133 pounds, No. 1
Aaron Lucio opened his season with a pair of quality wins, defeating Stephen Spitko of Coker (3-1) and Marco Tocci of North Carolina (8-3) to reach the quarterfinals. He was later stopped by Virginia Tech's Dillon Campbell and fell in a tight 9-6 bout to Appalachian State's Musa Tamaradze in consolation action, finishing 2-2 on the day.
At 141 pounds, No. 15
Drew Jones battled through a tough draw that included Virginia Tech's Tom Crook and Davidson's Blake Reihner. No. 4
Mario De La Torre (149) secured an opening-round win over Morgan State's Myrin Nixon (10-5) before dropping consecutive matches to wrestlers from North Carolina and Virginia Tech. No. 10
Jovon Mitchell (165) advanced to the quarterfinals after a 7-3 victory against Maryland's Ryan Money, showcasing poise against upper-division opponents.
In the upper weights, both No. 2
Kasten Grape and No. 4
Gentry Smith at 197 pounds earned early victories—Grape edging Coen Grimm of West Virginia 6-5 and Smith defeating Cole Tolley of West Virginia 8-4—before each was narrowly eliminated by NCAA Division I wrestlers from Virginia Tech and Minnesota.
Although the Southeast Open produced fewer podium finishes, the meet offered critical experience and exposure for SEU's lineup, reinforcing the Fire's ability to compete with high-level competition beyond the NAIA. Across the two days, Southeastern combined dominance in NAIA competition with meaningful lessons against NCAA opponents—an ideal start for a team eyeing another deep postseason run.
The Fire will continue their early-season road swing next weekend with a two-day trip through Georgia. SEU opens competition Saturday, November 8, at 11 a.m. with a dual against Reinhardt University in Waleska, followed by a full day of action Sunday, November 9, at the Georgia Open in Franklin Springs.
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