Armengol, Van Alst, Christie and Innocent Named SPC Credit Union Co-Student-Athletes of the Month

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - Coker University wrestlers Omar Armengol, Zachary Van Alst, Corey Christie and Jhavon Innocent were named SPC Credit Union Co-Student-Athletes of the Month for March, announced today (Wednesday, Mar. 25).

The quartet represented Coker at the NCAA Division II Wrestling National Championships back on Mar. 13-14, marking the most national qualifiers in a single season for the program. Van Alst (141) and Innocent (174) automatically punched their tickets with third-place finishes at the regional tournament, while Armengol (133) and Christie (165) advanced with fourth-place finishes.

Van Alst began the day at the regional tournament dropping his opening match to top-seeded Isaiah Royal of Newberry, before defeating Franko Cuccurello of Mount Olive by technical fall 16-1 in 4:24. Van Alst then defeated Devinaire Hayes of Queens (N.C.) by decision 5-3, before posting a 15-2 major decision over Justin Payne of Belmont Abbey to reach the third-place match. Van Alst defeated Jonathan Miller of UNC Pembroke by decision 2-1 to punch his ticket to Sioux Falls.

The Prattville, Ala. native is the son of Robert Lee and Jennifer Dawn Van Alst, and is a mathematics major.

Innocent dropped his first match of the regional tournament to Myles Williams of Emmanuel (Ga.), before posting a 3-1 sudden victory over Garrett Hill of UNC Pembroke. Iocent then defeated Billy Christie of Newberry by decision 8-6, before avenging his loss to Williams by beating him 7-3. Inocent would punch his ticket with a 6-3 decision over Logan Branham of Belmont Abbey.

The Spring Valley, N.Y. native is the son of Michalle Pierre-Louis, and is a mathematics major.

Armengol began his regional tournament with a tough loss to Logan Seliga of UNC Pembroke, before defeating Lleyon Tylor of Belmont Abbey by major decision 8-0. Armengol posted his second straight win by major decision over Austin Neal of Newberry 19-9, before falling to Craig Cook of Davis & Elkins in the third-place match.

The Mater Lakes, Fla. native is the son of Omar and Yenny Armengol, and is a physical education major.

Christie began his regional with a 5-0 decision over Matthew Schmall of Emmanuel (Ga.), before dropping a decision to Noah Tarr of Davis & Elkins. Christie then posted an 11-2 major decision over Nestor Nunez of Newberry, before defeating Garrett Beam of Limestone by decision 9-2. Christie earned a rematch with Tarr, falling by decision to place fourth.

The Lower Burrell, Pa. native is the son of James and Lori Christie, and is a biology major.