(DANVILLE, Va.) - The Quakers send six first-year wrestlers to Averett University for the Region IV Tournament this weekend, beginning tomorrow. Still, their strength is their experience in the middle and heavyweight classes, which they hope will help them have wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships in Providence, Rhode Island.

The lightweight classes will feature all first-year wrestlers for the Quakers.

In the 125-pound class, Gavyn Grim looks for his first win of the season. He will want to wrestle well and gain experience against quality competition.

Jason Louiso represents the Quakers at 133 pounds and has three wins this season and one at 133.

Braxton Ankrom enters the regional match with one win at 141 pounds. Ankrom's lone 141-pound win came against Rushi Patel from Muskingum University, winning by a 15-1 major decision.

The middleweight classes have been the strength of the Quakers all year, as they will send out experience and wins to these divisions.

Junior James Rankin, a JUCO transfer from Jamestown Community College, is 2-1 this season but is a two-time NJCAA National Qualifier and District Champion.

Rankin is 1-0 in the 149-pound class, having defeated Adon Overstreet of Randolph College at the Averett Duals earlier this season, but has been hampered with injuries this season.

Thane McCoy is the most successful wrestler the Quakers are sending to regionals. A redshirt freshman, McCoy is 18-6 this season and 17-5 at 157 pounds.

McCoy has not lost a match at 157 pounds this year since a stacked Findlay Open and has won 13 matches in a row.

Asher LeBeau has four wins and wrestles at 165 pounds, where he is 1-3. LeBeau's lone win at 165 came against Sam Wegesin from Otterbein University, with LeBeau winning 17-9.

Quintez Pratt goes at 175 pounds for the Quakers with four wins. Pratt won one match at 174 pounds after starting the season at 165 pounds.

The heavyweight classes are another class where experience plays a factor.

Cairo Vanterpool, the lone underclass athlete, enters the 184-pound bracket with four wins this season, all coming at 184 pounds. Vanterpool won his last time out at the Wabash Open, going 1-2 and defeating Desmon Perry from Ohio Wesleyan University, 10-3.

Senior Caleb Tackett will wrestle at 197 pounds for the regional. He wrestled sparingly this year and is 2-2 this season but at 285 pounds. Tackett returns to 197 pounds, where he finished sixth last year and fifth in 2022 at the NCAA Central Regional.

Tim Lewellen will wrestle at 285 pounds for his second tournament this year at the regional. He is 0-2 this season.