POWDER SPRINGS, Ga.— The Montreat men's wrestling team got its 2024-25 regular season underway on Saturday when it traveled to Powder Springs, Ga. for the Life U Open. Wrestling in both the gold and silver divisions, the Cavaliers' 15 wrestlers combined for 10 victories in their initial action of the year.
 
Four different Cavs collected at least one win in the gold division, while a trio did the same in the silver division. Dalton Towe made the deepest championship bracket run of any Cavalier in the gold division. Competing in the 174-lb weight class, Towe received a first-round bye before notching a 4-2 decision over a wrestler from the host institution, Life University. Towe then lost to a top-20 NCAA Division III participant via pin before dropping a bout by tech fall in the consolation bracket.
 
Seth Williamson collected the most wins of any Montreat wrestler in the top division on Saturday. Wrestling at 197, Williamson suffered a major decision defeat after a first-round bye. The Statesville, N.C. native bounced back, however, with consecutive wins in the consolation bracket. Williamson pinned an NCAA DII wrestler from UNC Pembroke before recording a dominant 18-0 tech fall win over a foe from Truett McConnell University. The senior's day came to a close moments later in a tight 11-7 decision versus another DII opponent.
 
Dylan Hogan (165-lb) and Milosz Gargol (184-lb) each went 1-2 with a forfeit victory in the gold division.
 
Matthew Cranfill and Ayden Goodman went 2-2 participating in the silver division. In the 197-lb weight class, Cranfill utilized a bye and a 14-10 decision triumph to reach the quarterfinal round. While the Conover, N.C. native lost to an NCAA Division I foe from the University of Florida, he responded well with an 11-5 consolation bracket victory. Cranfill forfeited his final bout of the tournament.
 
Goodman was pinned in his initial matchup at 125, but after a pair of consolation byes, he jumped into the win column with back-to-back pins. A native of Hubert, N.C., Goodman's tournament ended via fall.
 
Celton Littrell went 1-2 in the 184-lb bracket of the silver division, utilizing an 18-1 tech fall during the consolation rounds to pick up a victory.
 
For a look at the full results from the Life U Open, click here.
 
Montreat heads to the University of Pikeville on Friday, Dec. 6 for its first dual action of the season.