WALESKA, Ga.— Competing at the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Wrestling Tournament on Friday in Waleska, Ga., the Montreat wrestling program recorded its highest team finish in program history with a runner-up performance. The Cavaliers placed third in the 2021 AAC Tournament during their first season as a varsity program.
 
Montreat tallied 86 points on the day, trailing only No. 4 Reinhardt University.
 
Three Cavaliers wrestled their way to the championship bout in their respective weight classes. Wrestling at 157, Taquel Young advanced to the semifinal round thanks to an opening quarterfinal forfeit. In the semifinals, Young pinned his opponent from Truett McConnell University in the first period (2:12). Despite cruising to the first-place bout, Young couldn't quite overcome a late deficit in the championship match, ultimately dropping a 6-5 decision.
 
Easton Griffin also had a strong showing for the Cavaliers in the 165-lb weight class. Griffin took his Bluefield University foe out in 2:43 via pin to advance from the quarterfinals to the semifinal round. There, Griffin defeated a TMU Bear on a 4-2 decision. Waiting for Griffin in the championship round was the No. 13-ranked wrestler at 165. Griffin battled valiantly, but his ranked Reinhardt foe seized the 8-0 major decision.
 
The final Cavalier to reach the championship round came in the 197-lb weight class. Seth Williamson scored two sizable victories in the quarterfinals and semifinals, utilizing a pin (2:46) in his first bout and a 17-4 major decision in his second effort; however, like his two teammates before him, Williamson came up just a little bit short against a Reinhardt opponent, falling 9-3 in the championship round.
 
Five other Cavaliers advanced to the semifinal round in their respective championship brackets. At 141, Mohamed Ben Hafsia pinned a wrestler from St. Andrews University in 3:48. He was later defeated in the semifinals on a 16-1 tech fall against the No. 7-ranked wrestler and eventual AAC champion in his weight class. Also at 141, Jonathan Zafra utilized a 22-7 tech fall to get through his quarterfinal. Ben Hafsia eventually went on to claim third place over Zafra with an 8-2 decision.
 
Landon Chambers, like several of his teammates, propelled himself into the semifinals with a quarterfinal victory via pin (2:26). Chambers rolled through the consolation bracket to a third-place finish (8-5 decision) after narrowly dropping his semifinal bout, 3-2, to the No. 7-ranked wrestler in the 149-lb weight class.
 
Dalton Towe won by fall in 2:34 in the quarterfinals, but then lost to the No. 13-ranked wrestler and eventual AAC champion at 165. Towe later placed fourth in the consolation bracket. Meanwhile, Jim Connaghan received a bye into the semifinals at 285.
 
Branson Bennett lost his quarterfinal at 157 to the eventual AAC champion, but he rallied to win three consecutive bouts to place third.
 
For the complete results from the AAC Tournament, click here.
 
Following the conclusion of the tournament, AAC coaches met to select which seven wrestlers would receive the conference's wild-card selections to the 2022 NAIA Wrestling National Championships. During those discussions, it was decided that Chambers and Young would receive two of those wild-card berths.
 
The selections of Chambers and Young mark the first time in program history in which Montreat will send two wrestlers to the NAIA National Championships. Chambers and Young will begin their preparations for the NAIA Wrestling National Championships in Park City, Kan. immediately. Competitors from across the country are set to wrestle on Mar. 4-5 at Hartman Arena.