PEMBROKE, N.C. - Five Cobra wrestlers placed within their weight classes at the 39th annual Pembroke Classic on Sunday (Nov. 10).
John Watts placed fifth at 125 pounds, starting his day with a 7-6 decision over Mount Olive's Hayden Waddell. Watts then dropped a 6-5 decision to Timothy Decator of North Carolina, before falling in a 3-1 decision to Kevin Seravia of Life University. Watts would claim fifth place with a 3-2 win by decision over Christian Decatur of Fresno Community College. Gaven Baker also earned one win on the day for Coker, pinning Huntingdon's Andrew Smith in 2:47. Brandon Dasen also wrestled unattached for Coker at 125 pounds.
No. 17 Chris Poland and Omar Armengol both competed at 133 pounds, with Armengol picking up two wins on the day. Armengol earned a 15-8 decision of Huntingdon's Tristan Powell, while also winning by fall over Alex Wade of Allen in 4:57.
Alex Braden placed fifth at 141 pounds for Coker, as he began his day with a 5-1 decision over UNC Pembroke's Ethan Hnasko. Braden fell against Life University's Jake Ruiz by tech fall, before rebounding to pin Jordan Mckinney of Mount Olive in 1:41. Braden would earn his second consecutive win by fall over Elijah Gray of Lander in 3:56, before he fell by decision to Life's Julian Hernandez by a score of 10-6. Braden would capture fifth place with a 16-0 tech fall win over Southeastern's Maxwell Kauffman to finish off his day. Troy Gasque and Jackson Aaron also competed at 141 pounds for Coker.
Austin Lippincott picked up three wins on the day at 149, with the first coming over The Citadel's Sebastian Collazo by decision (6-2). Lippincott rolled right along with a 17-10 decision win over Anthony Torrez of Army. After dropping his next bout, Lippicott defeated Ian Clark of Life by major decision 12-1 before falling in his final bout of the day.
Ethan Welsh competed for the Cobras at 157, earning one win on the day. Welsh pinned Nick Richardson of Mount Olive in 3:19 for his victory.
Corey Christie was the highest-placing individual Cobra, finishing second at 165 pounds. Christie began his day with a 14-0 major decision over Lander's Brice Harkness, before defeating Mason McDaniel of Life by decision 5-4. Christie punched his ticket to the championship bout with a 12-9 decision over North Carolina State's Gaven Krazer, before falling to North Carolina's Sawyer Davidson by decision 10-5.
No. 12 Jhavon Innocent placed third at 174 pounds, starting his day with a 6-3 decision over UNC Pembroke's Cliff Owens. Innocent then was pinned by North Carolina's Joseph Mazzara, before winning by decision over UNCP's Jovaun Johnson 8-5. Innocent would keep rolling with a 5-3 decision over Mike Eduord of Life, before picking up another win by decision over Carlos Diaz of Southeastern 11-7. Innocent took third place with a 5-3 decision over Angel Hernandez of Lander.
Seth Spell and David Alvarez both competed at 197 pounds for the Cobras.
Marco Mason Jr. placed fifth at 285 pounds for Coker, starting his day with a 15-0 tech fall over Gabriel Guess of Mount Olive. Mason gutted out a 2-0 decision over Harry Locklear of Allen, before falling to Andre Bisainthe of Life by tech fall. After dropping his next bout to Ogden Atwood of Mount Olive, Mason captured fifth place with a 3-2 tie-breaker victory over Life's Eric Conquest. Deven Holland also competed for the Cobras at 285 pounds.
The Cobras return to dual meet action this coming Friday (Nov. 15) at St. Andrews. The match is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start.