BELMONT, N.C. — Freshman Zach Bergman and Jayden Malecki both won titles and four other Belmont Abbey wrestlers placed as the Crusaders competed in the 2025 Conference Carolinas Developmental Wrestling Championships Monday at the Wheeler Center.  
 
Bergman won two bouts to take home the title in the 133-pound weight class while Malecki doing the same at 184.
 
Additionally, Caden Brandenburg (165), Alex Ropski (157) and Palmer Smith (174) finished as the runners-up in their respective weight classes while Daniel Graham (125) and River Houck (285) finished in third place.
 
The event was a chance for wrestlers across Conference Carolinas with limited varsity experience a chance to compete in a championship competition.
 
The full tournament results can be found here.
 
Belmont Abbey returns to the mat to face Allen at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Columbia, S.C.  
 
125: Daniel Graham (0-2)

• Bryson Harper (UNCP) def. Daniel Graham (BAC) (Fall 4:19)
• Round 2 - Mason Moody (Coker) def. Daniel Graham (BAC) (Fall 4:58)

133: Zach Bergman (2-0)

• Zach Bergman (BAC) def. Sam Hutchinson (UNC Pembroke) (Dec 8-1)
• Zach Bergman (BAC) def. Walter Woodard (Coker) (Fall 2:45)

149: Jacob Coyle (1-2)

• Tyler Nelson (UNCP) def. Jacob Coyle (Belmont Abbey) (Fall 1:45)
• Jacob Coyle (BAC) def. Rucker Beck (Coker) (Fall 1:26)
• 3rd Place Match - Kymontae Wright (Coker) def. Jacob Coyle (BAC) (TF 19-4)

157: Alex Ropski (1-1)

• Round 2 - Alex Ropski (BAC) def. Kodey Butler (UMO) (Fall 0:39)
• Round 3 - Zander McWilliams (Lander) def. Alex Ropski (BAC) (SV-1 4-1)

165: Caden Brandenburg (2-1)

• Caden Brandenburg (BAC) def.  Ransom Randolph (Lander) (SV-1 4-1)
• Semifinal - Caden Brandenburg (BAC) def. Benjamin Taylor (UMO) (Fall 1:28)
• 1st Place Match - Aspen Talbot (UNCP) def. Caden Brandenburg (BAC) (Fall 2:58)

174: Palmer Smith (1-1)

• Ayden Lightner (Lander) def. Palmer Smith (BAC) (TF 23-4)
• Palmer Smith (BAC) def. Joshua Howell (Coker) (Maj 15-4)

184: Jayden Malecki (2-0)

• Jayden Malecki (BAC) def. over Grant Lawter (Lander) (Maj 12-4)
• Jayden Malecki (BAC) def. Dionte Smith (UMO) (TF 15-0)

197
Edison Morales (1-2)

• Hunter Jones (Lander) def. Edison Morales (BAC) (Fall 0:47)
• Edison Morales (BAC) def.Jason Dash (BAC) (Fall 3:53)
• Nathan Hampton (UMO) def. Edison Morales (BAC) (Fall 4:10)

Jeffery Hoelscher (1-2)

• Nathan Hampton (UMO) def. Jeffery Hoelscher (BAC) (Dec 8-7)
• Jeffery Hoelscher (BAC) def. Josh Smith (Newberry) (Maj 14-5)
• Champ Higdon (Lander) def. Jeffery Hoelscher (Belmont Abbey) (Fall 2:18)

Jason Dash (0-2)

• Champ Higdon (Lander) def. Jason Dash (BAC) (Fall 4:56)
• Cons. Round 1 - Edison Morales (BAC) def. Jason Dash (Belmont Abbey) (Fall 3:53)

285
Logan Latham (0-2)

• Daniel Karmanov (UNCP) def. Logan Latham (BAC) (Fall 4:28)
• Caleb Hovis (BAC) def. Logan Latham (BAC) (FF)

River Houck (3-1)

• River Houck (BAC) def. Caleb Hovis (BAC) (Fall 5:38)
• Semifinal - Daniel Karmanov (UNCP) def. River Houck (BAC) (Maj 11-2)
• Cons. Semi - River Houck (BAC) def. Derick Mirts (BAC) (Dec 1-0)
• 3rd Place Match - River Houck (BAC) def. Caleb Hovis (BAC) (Fall 6:00)

Derick Mirts's (0-2)

• Chance Jackson (Newberry) def. Derick Mirts (BAC) (Fall 3:50)
• River Houck (BAC) def. Derick Mirts (BAC) (Dec 1-0)

Luke McMinn (0-2)

• Chance Jackson (Newberry) def. Luke McMinn (Belmont Abbey) (Fall 1:04)
• Caleb Hovis (Belmont Abbey) def. Luke McMinn (Belmont Abbey) (FF)

Caleb Hovis (2-2)

• River Houck (BAC) won by fall over Caleb Hovis (Belmont Abbey) (Fall 5:38)
• Caleb Hovis (BAC) def. Logan Latham (BAC) (FF)
• Caleb Hovis (Belmont Abbey) def. Luke McMinn (Belmont Abbey) (FF)
• River Houck (BAC) def. Caleb Hovis (BAC) (Fall 6:00)