Qualifier Recap
Morelli and Schwebel Win Carolina Qualifier, Enter Season 10 Draft Pool
Vincent Morelli won the 145-pound bracket and Leo Schwebel swept the 185-pound field at the Carolina Copperheads qualifier in Durham.
DURHAM, N.C. - Vincent Morelli and Leo Schwebel are the Carolina Copperheads qualifier champions and the newest athletes in the PGF Season 10 Draft pool.
Morelli won five matches to claim the 145-pound bracket. Schwebel matched him with five wins at 185 pounds. Together, they emerged from 56 completed matches at Triangle Jiu Jitsu and added two more names to the league's expanding preseason field.
Winning a qualifier earns an athlete a place in the Season 10 Draft pool. It does not guarantee a team roster spot; PGF's eight franchises will make those selections through the established draft process.
Morelli closes a five-win run at 145
Morelli opened with a Break over Liam Brown in 1:38, followed with a Kill over Dallas Manspile in 1:40, and advanced past Bryce Grantz with another Kill at 2:58. He then defeated Thomas Brandenburger by Break in 1:42 to reach the final against Christopher Rios.
The championship match ended with Morelli locking a triangle choke for the bracket's Kill-under-one-minute classification. Frame-by-frame review of the broadcast clock confirms a 0:59 finish, completing a 5-0 day for the Morelli Martial Arts competitor.
Schwebel sweeps the 185-pound bracket
Schwebel's path was a clean sweep of Break classifications. He defeated Pat Higgins in 35 seconds, Isaac Peake in 5:11, Lyndon Yates in 1:31, and Giuseppe Lamanna in 4:32 before meeting Brian Armstrong for the title.
The final lasted just 15 seconds. Schwebel earned his fifth Break of the event, secured the 185-pound qualifier championship, and joined Morelli in the Season 10 Draft pool.
Carolina final results
| Division | Qualifier champion | Final opponent | Official result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 145 lbs | Vincent Morelli | Christopher Rios | Triangle choke, 0:59 |
| 185 lbs | Leo Schwebel | Brian Armstrong | Break, 0:15 |
Two more athletes enter the Draft pool
Morelli and Schwebel bring the published Season 10 qualifier total to eight athletes. They have earned the opportunity to be drafted, but neither athlete is guaranteed a roster position until a franchise makes its selection.
