Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel Wrestling team fell behind early and could not recover as they fell to UNC Greensboro on Sunday afternoon, 22-14, at McAlister Field House.
The Bulldogs (6-9, 2-1) fell behind 19-3 to start the match and managed to cut lead to 19-15, but the Spartans (4-7, 2-0) held onto the win late behind a tech fall, an overtime win and a win awarded via disqualification. It is the seventh consecutive win for UNC Greensboro over The Citadel.
Starting at heavyweight, No. 18 Peter Sturgeon of UNCG used three early takedowns and a total of five in the match to down freshman Luke Johnson, 12-6, giving the Spartans an early team lead.
At 125, a back-and-forth affair saw Richard Alarcon get a first period takedown of the UNCG's Manny Ramirez. The second period saw both wrestlers get a takedown and a pair of escapes by Alarcon would move him in front, 6-3, heading to the final stanza. Ramirez escaped to start off the third and got a late takedown to send the match to overtime. Ramirez wasted no time in overtime to grab the victory, 8-6, with a takedown.
The Spartans' Jamel Johnson used three first period takedowns to control Tyler Sim at 133 pounds. After just registering escape points, Sim was able to cut the lead to 7-10 with a takedown in the third, but two more Johnson takedowns would salt away the win, 16-9 to put the Spartans in front, 9-0.
At 141, Jordan Dix struck first with a takedown. UNCG's Michael Crowley then reversed to tie the score, before Dix escaped to move back in front. The two then exchanged escape points as Dix held on for the 4-3 win to get the Bulldogs on the board.
No. 12 Ivan Lopouchanski was in complete control at 149 pounds as he blitzed Nick LaFevre for a 27-11 tech fall win for the Spartans. At 157 pounds, Pierre Frazile was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving Cody Rodebaugh the win and scoring six team points for the Spartans.
Moving to 165 pounds, No. 8 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj earned a quick takedown of UNCG's Travis Sheehy. After another Luvsandorj takedown, the sophomore got Sheehy to his back and earned the pin at the 2:50 mark just before the opening period ended, cutting the team deficit to 19-9.
The most anticipated match of the day occurred at 174 pounds as it featured a pair of nationally ranked wrestlers in No. 29 Byron Sigmon of UNCG and No. 33 J.C. Oddo. After a scoreless opening period, Sigmon escaped and Oddo then struck first with a takedown mid-way through the second period. A two-point nearfall by Oddo then put the Bulldog in front, 4-1. Another late takedown and a riding time point gave Oddo the 7-1 win.
A stalemate broke out in the first two periods at 184 pounds between Justin Sparrow and UNCG's Elijah Adams. After neither grappler scored any points in the first two periods, Sparrow earned the first point of the match to start the third period with an escape. Just before the final buzzer sounded, Sparrow earned a takedown to seal the win at 3-1.
In the final match of the afternoon, UNCG's Caylor Williams earned a first period takedown of Kelby Smith at 197 pounds. Smith would tie the match with a pair of escapes. Williams then escaped to begin the third period and took down Smith twice to seal the win and the match at 10-3.
UNCG 22, The Citadel 14
HWT: #18 Peter Sturgeon (UNCG) dec. Luke Johnson (CIT), 12-6
125: Manny Ramirez (UNCG) dec. Richard Alarcon (CIT), 8-6 SV1
133: Jamel Johnson (UNCG) dec. Tyler Sim (CIT), 16-9
141: Jordan Dix (CIT) dec. Michael Crowley (UNCG), 4-3
149: #12 Ivan Lopouchanski (UNCG) tech fall Nick LaFevre (CIT), 27-11
157: Cody Rodebaugh (UNCG) DQ win over Pierre Frazile (CIT)
165: #8 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (CIT) pinned Travis Sheehy (UNCG), 2:50
174: #33 J.C. Oddo (CIT) dec. #29 Byron Sigmon (UNCG), 7-1
184: Justin Sparrow (CIT) dec. Elijah Adams (UNCG), 3-1
197: Caylor Williams (UNCG) dec. Kelby Smith (CIT), 10-3
The Bulldogs return to action on Friday when they travel to Lexington, Va. for a SoCon dual with VMI at 7:30 p.m. For more information on Bulldog Wrestling, visit CitadelSports.com.