GLENVILLE, W.Va. - The No. 1 Glenville State Wrestling team opened their much anticipated 2026-27 campaign with a first place finish in the Pioneer Open presented by GoMart on Sunday (Nov. 1). The Pioneers totaled 156 points to win the 15-team tournament, taking down nationally ranked UNC Pembroke, Ashland, Indianapolis and Millersville. 

GSU had two grapplers with first-place finishes, three finish second, one finish third and two finish fourth. Cal Baptist transfer Cooper Shore shined in his Pioneer debut at 133 pounds, going (5-0) with two falls, a major decision and two decisions. Shore's best win came against Ashland's Rylen Campbell, who is #10 in the country, in the semifinals. West Virginia transfer Shawn Taylor (174) was impressive as well, winning all five of his matches, including three tech falls and a major decision. In his championship match, Taylor tech falled UNC Pembroke's Logan Hoffman, 20-3.

Returners Matthew McAfee (133), Ethan Mitchell (141) and Max Borton (285) all finished second alongside West Liberty import Nico Taddy (157). Borton wrestled at heavyweight for the first time this season after spending all of last season at 184 pounds, where he was an All-MEC Second Team finisher. Woodrow Wilson product Garrett Johnson wrestled well at 125 pounds, earning a third-place nod for the Pioneers. Ashland transfer Luke Acuna (133) as well as Connor Holm (165) and David Pento (184) all finished fourth in their respective weights. Newcomer Malachi O'Leary (Ohio, 125 lbs) and Roman Onorato (165) rounded out the placers with a pair of sixth-place finishes.

Up Next For The Pioneers
The Pioneers will be busy this weekend, competing at the Pembroke Open on Saturday (Nov. 7) before facing off with Virginia on Sunday (Nov. 8) at the Throwdown on the Yorktown. GSU and the Cavaliers will do battle on a United States Naval ship, the USS Yorktown CV-10.