College wrestling season opened Sunday in Salem, and the 2026 Southeast Open wasted no time delivering a packed first look at the year ahead.
Roanoke College’s Cregger Center hosted the 18th season-opening tournament, which drew nearly 30 collegiate programs and a field loaded with familiar names. Virginia Tech, Virginia, VMI, Washington and Lee, NC State, North Carolina, West Virginia, Appalachian State and Chattanooga were all part of the mix as the event featured both an open bracket and a freshman/sophomore bracket.
Virginia Tech was one of the biggest draws for the regional crowd, kicking off its 2026-27 campaign in front of a local audience. The tournament also gave fans a chance to see several Virginia schools line up against nationally recognized Division I competition.
Virginia turned in three podium finishes. Preston Wagner placed fourth at 285 pounds in the freshman/sophomore division, while Will Etu took fifth at 197 pounds in the same division.
Jack Myers finished sixth at 149 pounds in the open division. Wagner and Etu were making their collegiate debuts for the Cavaliers.
Virginia Tech produced eight podium finishes of its own. One of the day’s biggest results came from Aaron Seidel, who beat North Carolina’s Marco Tocci by technical fall, 19-4, in the 133-pound semifinals. Jimmy Mullen also notched a win over Washington and Lee heavyweight Carter Stack in the open division.
Washington and Lee, ranked eighth nationally in Division III entering the season, came away with three individual place-winners. Jacob Wright led the Generals with a third-place finish at 184 pounds.
Evan Owen was fourth at 149 pounds, and Noah Danforth took sixth at 165 pounds, all in the freshman/sophomore division. W&L also piled up 18 total victories against a field made up mostly of Division I programs.
Roanoke College had its own presence on the podium through five wrestlers competing unattached for the ‘Noke Regional Training Center.
Jonah Paulino paced the Maroons with a third-place finish in the open division at 141 pounds. He won three of four matches, including two victories over Maryland wrestlers. Taylor Smith finished sixth at 157 pounds in the open division after going 4-2, and his day started with a win over Washington and Lee’s Liam Flanagan, who entered the tournament ranked second nationally.
In the freshman/sophomore bracket, Drew Montgomery reached the title match at 149 pounds and finished second. Jackson Rowling placed fifth at 157 pounds, and Brock Sullivan finished sixth at 197 pounds. Roanoke was picked as the ODAC preseason favorite.
The Southeast Open, which began as the Hokie Open in 2008, has developed into one of the nation’s top early-season wrestling tournaments. It continues to bring high-level competition to Southwest Virginia, and now the teams move on to the rest of the 2026-27 season with conference and NCAA championship goals ahead.
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