MARIETTA, Ga. — The Life University men's wrestling team hosted their annual Lucha Open at McEachern High School, with several standout performances across both the Gold and Silver Divisions.

Head Coach Omi Acosta shared his thoughts on the event, stating, "I want to express my gratitude to God for the incredible opportunity to compete and for guiding us safely through the tournament. A special thank you goes out to everyone who played a part in making the Lucha Open such a tremendous success. I want to thank the women's wrestling team and both coach Flavins (Ashley Flavin, Head Women's Wrestling Coach, and Christian Flavin, Assistant Women's Wrestling Coach) for their unwavering support in organizing and helping with the event. I am proud of how our team performed and while there are areas for improvement, I am happy with where we are and I'm looking forward to getting better everyday." Acosta then continued, "I"m proud of all of the guys competing and working hard everyday in both divisions.  Thank you to everyone for your support. LUCHA!"
For a full list of results click, HERE. 

Gold Division Highlights

In the Gold Division, Thaddeus Long (133 lbs) earned first place with a series of decisive victories. He began with a technical fall and a major decision before securing a pin in the quarterfinals and a close decision in the semifinals. Long won the final match 8-7 to secure the bracket.

In the 157-pound class, Fabian Padilla advanced to the finals after winning four matches, including a semifinal decision. He placed second after a sudden victory loss in the final. Alexander Couto (174 lbs) also reached the finals, winning multiple matches, including a pin and a semifinal decision, before finishing as the runner-up.

The 184-pound bracket saw two Life University athletes, Jesse Perez and Kendall Norfleet, advance to the final match. Both had strong performances throughout the bracket, including multiple falls and technical victories. The final was decided by default, with both wrestlers sharing second place.

Tre Morrisette (197 lbs) earned second place after progressing through the bracket with victories by fall, technical fall, and decision. He came up short in the final but finished with a strong performance overall. At 285 lbs, Nate Glass and Demarco Lee both advanced to the finals after dominant runs through the bracket. The championship was decided by default, resulting in a shared second-place finish.

Other notable placements included Reese Jones (165 lbs), who took third place, and Konlin Weaver (165 lbs), who finished fifth. Dante Olivero (149 lbs) placed fourth, advancing deep into the bracket with consistent wins before falling in the consolation semifinals.

Silver Division Highlights

Life University wrestlers also excelled in the Silver Division, with several athletes capturing first-place finishes. Peyton Hoskins (133 lbs) won all his matches, including four by fall, to claim the title. His dominant performance concluded with a championship win by medical forfeit.

Zachery Lee (149 lbs) placed first after winning multiple matches, including two by fall and one by technical fall. In the final, he secured a 6-5 decision to take the championship. Efren Arizmendez (174 lbs) also took first place, winning every match by fall. His championship victory came in just over a minute.

Anthony Santos (141 lbs) finished in second place after advancing through the bracket with multiple falls and a technical fall. He lost in the final but had a strong overall performance. Dominic Ruiz (141 lbs) placed third in the same weight class, with his tournament run highlighted by a technical fall and two wins by fall, including the third-place match.

Other strong showings included Nathaniel Santos (157 lbs), who finished sixth, and Richard Alexander (285 lbs), who placed fifth. Both wrestlers won multiple matches, with Santos recording five wins by fall. Anthony Delgado (165 lbs) and other Life University competitors advanced through the brackets with early victories but did not place.

Up next, the men's wrestling team will host have a short break for the thanksgiving break before hosting the Rocky Top Duals in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in December.