UNCG tops Citadel, 28-15, in SoCon Wrestling action

CHARLESTON, SC ? The UNC Greensboro wrestling team took seven of 10 possible bouts to rout Southern Conference rival The Citadel, 28-15, on Saturday afternoon at McAlister Field House. The Spartans improved to 8-3 overall with a 4-1 conference record.

 

The Citadel (3-6, 0-2 SoCon) jumped out to the early 12-0 lead after collecting two fall victories. Levi Duyn recorded a pin over Marcus Hannah in 5:21 at 149 lbs. Travis Piccard followed suit with a pin at 157 lbs. in 4:45 over Nate Berryman. However, junior Mark Ring picked up the 15-3 major decision over Zachary Filter to close the Bulldogs lead to 12-4.

 

Senior Joe Lowe improved his dual record to 11-0 after he grabbed the 7-3 decision over The Citadel’s Darius Caldwell in a rematch of last year’s SoCon Championship final at 174 lbs. The Bulldogs answered back with a 3-2 decision at 184 lbs. to extend their lead, 15-7.

 

The Spartans answered back by taking the last five bouts beginning with freshman Nick Clark at 197 lbs. Clark recorded his team leading seventh fall victory in 5:37 over Griffin Greene. Junior Joe Sheffield tallied a close 3-1 decision over John Buck at 285 lbs. and gave UNCG its first lead of the afternoon, 16-15.

 

Junior Jeff Hedges earned the 5-1 decision Tyler Sim at 125 lbs. to give Spartans the 19-15 advantage. Freshman Mitchell Johnson sealed the win for the Spartans after the Laurinburg, NC native picked up the fall victory Matthew Leach in 6:48 at 133 lbs. Chris Bencivenga closed out the afternoon with a 10-3 decision over Matt Bullwinkel at 141 lbs. Bencivenga, the junior from Davie, FL, improves his dual record to 11-0 on the season.

 

Up next for the Spartans is a match with in-state rival North Carolina State at home on February 15 beginning at 7 pm.

 

UNCG 28, The Citadel 15

 

149 ? Levi Duyn (CIT) def. Marcus Hannah (UNCG) by fall; 5:21

157 ? Travis Piccard (CIT) def. Nathan Berryman (UNCG) by fall; 4:45

165 ? Mark Ring (UNCG) def. Zachary Filter (CIT) by major decision; 15-3

174 ? Joe Lowe (UNCG) def. Darius Caldwell (CIT) by decision; 7-3

184 ? John Dickerson (CIT) def. Kane Smith (UNCG) by decision; 3-2

197 ? Nick Clark (UNCG) def. Griffen Greene (CIT) by fall; 5:37

285 ? Joe Sheffield (UNCG) def. John Buck (CIT) by decision; 3-1

125 ? Jeff Hedges (UNCG) def. Tyler Sim (CIT) by decision; 5-1

133 ? Mitchell Johnson (UNCG) def. Matthew Leach (CIT) by fall; 6:48

141 ? Chris Bencivenga (UNCG) def. Matt Bullwinkel (CIT) by decision; 10-3