Boiling Springs, N.C. ? The Citadel wrestling squad won their fifth straight dual and their eighth contest in their last nine outings on Monday night as they downed Gardner-Webb, 29-9. The Cadets improved to 7-2 on the road this year.
The Bulldogs (9-5) broke a 9-9 tie after five matches by winning their final five matchups to get past the host Runnin’ Bulldogs (4-12-1). The Citadel won seven matches and pulled away from Gardner-Webb behind two pins and two major decisions.
Starting at 174 pounds with just 11 seconds to go in the first period, J.C. Oddo pinned GWU’s Vincent Salyer to give the Bulldogs an early 6-0 lead and earn his eighth fall of the season. Jonathan Velaquez’s late takedown edged out Kelby Smith, 7-6, at 184 pounds. At 197, Justin Sparrow used a takedown, an escape and a riding time point to blank Gardner-Webb’s Travis Porter, 4-0.
Another top matchup at heavyweight took place on Monday as Dustin Porter, ranked No. 12 nationally, edged out Odie Delaney, 7-5, behind two takedowns and three escapes. Both wrestlers have over 25 wins on the year. As the lineup turned over to 125, Gardner-Webb would tie the dual as Michael Slaughter used four takedowns to get past Giazzi Segarra, 9-4.
The Citadel would control the rest of the dual, winning the final five matches, starting at 133, as Jordan Dix earned his third major decision of the season by downing GWU’s Brett Kostern, 11-2, with three near falls, a reversal and a riding time point. At 141, Nick LaFevre earned the win with a near fall, an escape and a riding time point, 4-2, over the Runnin’ Bulldogs Richie Spicel.
The momentum continued for the Bulldogs at 149 as Derek Royster registered a major decision, 13-1, with three takedowns, two three-point near falls and a riding time point over GWU’s Ryan Medved. At 157 pounds, Turtogtokh Luvsandorj pinned his second straight opponent as he took out Alex Medved at the 1:30 mark halfway though the first period. It was the sixth pin of the year for the freshman from Mongolia. To end the night, true freshman Cameron Childs earned his first dual win of his collegiate career as used a takedown, two escape points and a riding time point to down GWU’s David Pelsang, 5-3.
The Citadel 29, Gardner-Webb 9
174: J.C. Oddo (CIT) pinned Vincent Salyer (GWU), 2:49
187: Jonathan Velazquez (GWU) dec. Kelby Smith (CIT), 7-6
197: Justin Sparrow (CIT) dec. Travis Porter (GWU), 4-0
HWT: Dustin Porter (GWU) dec. Odie Delaney (CIT), 7-5
125: Michael Slaughter (GWU) dec. Giazzi Segarra (CIT), 9-4
133: Jordan Dix (CIT) maj. dec. Brett Kostern (GWU), 11-2
141: Nick LaFevre (CIT) dec. Richie Spicel (GWU), 4-2
149: Derek Royster (CIT) maj. dec. Ryan Medved (GWU), 13-1
157: Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (CIT) pin fall Alex Medved (GWU), 1:30
165: Cameron Childs (CIT) dec. David Pelsang (GWU), 5-3
The Citadel returns to action for their final dual meet of the year when they host the North Carolina Tar Heels on Sunday at McAlister Field House at 2 p.m.