The Keiser wrestling team opened the 2025-26 season with a statement performance at the Pepsi Patriot Open on Saturday, finishing 13th out of 30 teams with 101 points. The Seahawks recorded five individual placers and 31 total victories, both program highs, to cap an impressive start to the new campaign.

Leading the way was Sam Libby, who made program history by becoming the first Seahawk to win an Open Division title, capturing the 184-pound championship with a perfect 5-0 record. Libby dominated his bracket with three pins and a 9-6 decision in the final over No. 14 Cory Cannan of Lindsey Wilson.

In the Freshman/Sophomore Division, Daguy Massillon placed second at 285 pounds, while Jake Wyatt (141) finished fifth, and both Derrique Mytial (133) and Julian Gonzales (165) earned sixth-place finishes.

• Sam Libby (184 – Open Division), captured the first Open Division title in program history with a 5-0 record. Defeated two nationally ranked opponents, including No. 14 Cory Cannan (Lindsey Wilson) in the finals.
• Daguy Massillon (285 – Fr./So. Division), finished as runner-up with a 4-1 record. Earned wins by major decision and decision over several upperclassmen opponents before falling in sudden victory in the finals.
• Jake Wyatt (141 – Fr./So. Division), placed fifth with a 5-2 record. Collected multiple bonus-point wins, including four pins and a technical fall.
• Derrique Mytial (133 – Fr./So. Division), earned a sixth-place finish with a 4-3 record. Posted two technical falls and an 11-7 decision during his tournament run.
• Julian Gonzales (165 – Fr./So. Division), finished sixth with a 3-3 record. Started strong with three straight wins, including two technical falls and a pin.

Patrick Jones (125 – Open Division)
Championship Round 1 – BYE
Championship Round 2 – Loss by decision to #15 Brodie Christmas (Southeastern), 6-3
Consolation Round 2 – Loss by technical fall to #17 Trevor Hisey (Indiana Tech), 17-1



Josiah Fernandez (133 – Open Division)
Championship Round 1 – Loss by major decision to Randy Frailey (Siena Heights), 13-2
Consolation Round 1 – Win by technical fall over Zimani Malomboza (Indiana Tech), 19-0
Consolation Round 2 – Win by technical fall over Isaac Thornton (Cumberland KY), 23-7
Consolation Round 3 – Win by fall over Timothy Grunden (Defiance College), 6:12
Consolation Round 4 – Win by decision over Leland Reeves (Georgetown), 7-1
Consolation Round 5 – Loss by fall to #23 Jarrod Gilliam (Briar Cliff), 5:51

Derrique Mytial (133 – Freshman/Sophomore Division)
Championship Round 1 – BYE
Championship Round 2 – Win by technical fall over Joseph Sowell (Montevallo), 15-0
Championship Round 3 – Win by decision over Powell Gilbert (Andrew College), 11-7
Quarterfinal – Loss by decision to Connor Bayliss (Marian), 4-3
Consolation Round 6 – Win by decision over Drew Waldon (Cumberlands KY), 17-10
Consolation Round 7 – Win by technical fall over Joseph Sowell (Montevallo), 19-3
Consolation Semifinal – Loss by major decision to Christopher Dinsdale (Southeastern), 10-0
Fifth Place Match – Loss by forfeit to Connor Bayliss (Marian)



Anthony Santos (141 – Open Division)
Championship Round 1 – BYE
Championship Round 2 – Win by technical fall over Conner Wright (Brewton Parker), 19-4
Quarterfinal – Loss by decision to Kaden Brown, 13-10
Consolation Round 4 – Loss by fall to Trey Allen (Rio Grande), 1:04

Jake Wyatt (141 – Freshman/Sophomore Division)
Championship Round 1 – BYE
Championship Round 2 – Win by fall over Mason Fleming (Brewton Parker), 0:52
Championship Round 3 – Loss by technical fall to Malachi Kapenga (Campbellsville), 16-0
Consolation Round 4 – Win by fall over Amari Bright (Brewton Parker), 1:39
Consolation Round 5 – Win by fall over Hunter Luttrell (Cumberlands KY), 1:43
Consolation Round 6 – Win by forfeit over Brady Willman (Southwest Michigan)
Consolation Round 7 – Win by technical fall over Luke Carpenter (WVU Tech), 22-4
Consolation Semifinal – Loss by decision to Malachi Kapenga (Campbellsville), 3-0
Fifth Place Match – Win by no contest over Caleb Benton (Truett McConnell)




Joaquin Tanabe (149 – Open Division)
Championship Round 1 – Loss by technical fall to Maximos Stedeford (Montevallo), 16-1
Consolation Round 1 – BYE
Consolation Round 2 – Win by decision over Ayden Kelley (Briar Cliff), 10-4
Consolation Round 3 – Loss by major decision to Gavin Andreoni (Campbellsville), 10-0



Julian Gonzales (165 – Freshman/Sophomore Division)
Championship Round 1 – BYE
Championship Round 2 – Win by technical fall over Toby House (Truett McConnell), 20-4
Championship Round 3 – Win by fall over Emilio Liscano (Indiana Tech), 2:58
Quarterfinal – Win by fall over Levi Collins (Campbellsville), 5:37
Semifinal – Loss by forfeit to Rider Trumble (Cumberlands KY)
Consolation Semifinal – Loss by forfeit to Luke Schlosser (Campbellsville)
Fifth Place Match – Loss by forfeit to Wyatt Johnston (Cumberlands KY)

 

Ronald Butler (174 – Open Division)
Championship Round 1 – Win by technical fall over Jesus Grijalva (Brewton Parker), 20-4
Championship Round 2 – Loss by decision to Julius Pork (Cleary), 13-8
Consolation Round 2 – Loss by fall to Derrick Bannister (Cumberland KY), 0:00



Sam Libby (184 – Open Division)
Championship Round 1 – Win by decision over Jacob Gonzales (Rochester Christian), 8-4
Championship Round 2 – Win by fall over Spencer Fields (Truett McConnell), 1:22
Quarterfinal – Win by fall over Jonathan Vanderbilt (Southeastern), 2:29
Semifinal – Win by fall over #15 Justin Bartee (Rio Grande), 5:25
Final – Win by decision over #14 Cory Cannan (Lindsey Wilson), 9-6

Rocco D'Ascoli (184 – Open Division)
Championship Round 1 – Win by decision over Brayden Emerine (Indiana Tech), 5-4
Championship Round 2 – Loss by technical fall to Carter Falan (Cornerstone), 17-1
Consolation Round 2 – Loss by major decision to Brady Heckathorn (Cornerstone), 10-1


 

Jett McCauley (197 – Open Division)
Championship Round 1 – Win by fall over Brandon Rau (Siena Heights), 2:55
Quarterfinal – Loss by major decision to Aiden Abad (Marian), 9-0
Consolation Round 2 – Win by technical fall over Connor Sintobin (Defiance College), 19-0
Consolation Round 3 – Loss by fall to Ralph Sanchez (Southeastern), 1:25

Daguy Massillon (285 – Freshman/Sophomore Division)
Championship Round 1 – BYE
Championship Round 2 – Win by major decision over Ezra Vester (Bellarmine), 14-1
Championship Round 3 – Win by decision over Collin Sullivan (Lourdes), 8-3
Quarterfinal – Win by decision over Joel Simon (Cornerstone), 4-1
Semifinal – Win by decision over Jeff Blair (Siena Heights), 15-8
Final – Loss in sudden victory to Waylon Lingeman (Cornerstone), 6-5

Head Coach Cole Manion praised the team's growth and early-season performance:

"For the first tournament of the year, and being the biggest NAIA open in the country, I felt like our program performed well and has made a lot of improvements since last year," Manion said. "We still have a long way to go, but we're moving in the right direction. Some individuals didn't get the results we wanted, but that's okay. We're going to be better next week than we were this week, and that's going to continue all year long.

Seeing guys like Sam Libby win the first open in program history, and the first of his career, shows that what we're doing every day is working. I'm very excited about the direction of this program and the individuals involved. Keiser Wrestling is in a good place."

The Seahawks return to action Sunday, November 9, at the Georgia Open, hosted by Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia. Competition begins at 9:00 a.m. 

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