COLLEGE: PLENTY OF AREA WRESTLERS IN ACTION AT FRANKLIN & MARSHALL OPEN (January 9, 2026)

BY BRYAN SEYMOUR
Northern Tier Sports Report
College wrestling is back in full swing this weekend. Starting things off is the Franklin and Marshall Open. Wyalusing graduate CJ Carr is in action with Lock Haven in the 141-pound weight class.  Also in action is  North Penn Liberty’s Brayden Pequignot the 149-pound weight class and Riley Oakes in the 157-pound weight class, wrestling for Millersville, and Sullivan County’s Nathan Higley wrestling for Bellamine University.  

In the round of 64, Carr opened his day up against Landen Duncan of Kent State. After a scoreless first period, Carr found himself down 4-0 going into the third. Choosing bottom Carr was able to get an escape to make the score 4-, however, a couple of stall calls and ride time made the final score 6-1 decision loss for Carr. 

Dropping into the consolation rounds, Carr matched up with Matthew Martino of Princeton in the consi round of 32 #2. After the first period, Carr found himself down 3-0 with Martino starting in the down position to start the second. After a reversal and a second stall call against Carr, the second period ended 6-0. In the third period, Carr chose neutral, where he would give up the takedown and ride time point to make the final score a 10-0 major decision loss for Carr. 

Starting in the round of 64, Brayden Pequignot faced off against Kosta Koufalis of Buffalo. After the first period, Pequignot was trailing 5-0. After the second period, the score was 15-2. Pequignot chose neutral to start the third period, where he gave up the 3-point takedown and lost the match by technical fall 18-2 in 5:23. 

In the consi round of 32 #2, Pequignot matched up with Dustin Elliot of Bloomsburg-Unattached. After the initial takedown, Pequignot found himself on his back and lost by pinfall in 1:43 to end his day. 
Also wrestling for Millersville is Riley Oakes at 157 pounds. Oakes opened up in the round of 64 against Seth Weaver of Franklin and Marshall. After a 6-2 first period where Oakes found himself trailing. Headed into the second period with Oakes in the top position, he would give up the escape and takedown to find himself trailing 10-3 with three escapes. After three full periods, Oakes lost the match by a 10-4 decision.  

In the consi round of 64 #2, Oakes faced Luke Bender of Franklin and Marshall. After the first period Oakes found himself trailing 10-1. Oakes would choose neutral to start the second period. Giving up a takedown and back points, Oakes takes the loss by technical fall 16-1 in 4:39 to end his day.

One more local wrestler is Sullivan County’s Nathan Higley wrestling for Bellarmine. In the round of 64, Higley faced Billy Templeton of Franklin and Marshall. After a scoreless first period, Higley would give up an escape and trail 1-0 headed into the third period. Choosing the down position, Higley would earn the escape to tie it at 1 before getting the takedown and adding in ride time to win by a 5-1 decision. In round 32, Higley faced Gavin Hawk of Princeton. After the first period, Higley was trailing 4-2. After the second, Higley was still trailing 10-5. And in the end, Higley lost by a major decision 16-6. 

In the consi round of 32 #2, Higley met Jesse VanOrden of the Air Force Academy. After period one, Higley leads by a score of 10-2. A scoreless second period, and we head to the third period, where Higley scores more points to win the match by a major decision, 16-5. In the consi round 16 #1, Higley faced Keegan Knapp of Kent State. After a scoreless first period, Higley earned the escape in the second to take the 1-0 lead into the third period. Giving up the escape to tie the score, Higley would secure the takedown to win the match by a final 4-2. In the consi round 16 #2, Higley met Conner Doherty of Army Prep-Unattached. After a scoreless first period, Higley chose the down position and earned an escape to take the 1-0 lead into the third. However, Higley would give up the match-tying escape and takedown before earning an escape to make the final score a 4-2 decision loss. Higley would end his day.

In the end, for our local wrestlers, Higley goes 3-2. With Carr, Pequignot, and Oakes going 0-2. 

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