Emory & Henry Men’s Wrestling Makes History With First-Ever Match Against Averett Wednesday

Donovan Pinnix goes in for the bout-winning takedown.

EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Men's Wrestling Team (0-1) got its first taste of action in program history on Wednesday evening as it hosted Averett University (1-0) at the John Rutledge King Center. The Cougars picked up a 57-0 win in the main portion of the match while the Wasps earned a trip of victories in exhibition bouts.

The contest was the first event for E&H since March 14, 2020, when intercollegiate athletics were halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Averett 57, Emory & Henry 0
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Bob Johnson Court at the John Rutledge King Center
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (0-1); Averett (1-0)

How It Happened
- Averett began the match with a 30-0 lead as Emory & Henry's first-year roster does not currently have wrestlers between the 125- and 157-pound weight classes.
- The Cougars clinched the victory with a trio of first-round pinfalls at 165, 174 and 184. Freshman Josh Brooks (Monroe, Va.) lost an 11-4 decision at the 197-pound flight.
- In the exhibition bouts, Emory & Henry earned its first victory in program history when freshman Blaze Hughes (Chilhowie, Va.) won by a fall at the 5:55 mark.
- Freshman Austin McBee (Shelbyville, Tenn.) took his first opponent to overtime, dropping a 5-3 sudden victory decision. McBee responded with a mid-second round pin in his second bout of the night.
- The final bout of the evening gave the Wasps something to look forward to. With the score tied, 7-7, junior Donovan Pinnix (Eden, N.C.) needed a takedown in the final 15 seconds to post a come-from-behind victory. In storybook fashion, the three-sport standout slammed his opponent to the mat as time expired for the 9-8 win.

Up Next
- Emory & Henry will be back on the mat on Saturday when it competes in the Star City Classic presented by the USMC.

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