ANNAPOLIS,
Md. – Odie Delaney and Ugi Khishignyam dominated their respective weight
divisions to earn individual crowns and lift The Citadel wrestling team to a
third-place finish at the Navy Classic on Saturday.
Delaney, who entered the match ranked No. 13 in the nation in the
heavyweight division, collected two pins and a 6-2 decision to earn his place
in the championship bout against Ohio's No. 10-ranked Jeremy Johnson.
Johnson and Delaney are no strangers on the mats as the two met in a
consolation bout at the 2012 NCAA Championships in which the winner would earn
All-American status. Despite an early takedown by Delaney, the Bobcat
heavyweight would take over control and record a pin in the fifth minute to end
Delaney's season.
This time out, the Bulldog heavyweight earned revenge on his rival with a
7-6 decision in the championship bout to earn his first win in four tries
against Johnson.
In the 141-pound division, No. 9-ranked Khishignyam dominated the mats
for the third consecutive week as the Mongolia native collected three decisions
and a major decision en route to earning the championship.
Three other Bulldogs placed in the meet, including Matt Frisch, who
competed in seven bouts to earn a 6-1 record on the day and take third place in
a tough 157-pound division. Aaron Hansen nabbed fourth place with a 4-1 record at
133, while Jordan Dix took fifth at 149 with a 3-2 mark on the day.
The Bulldogs collected 69.5 points to take third place overall behind
team champion Kent State (114.5) and host Navy (109.5).
The Citadel returns to action at the Nittany Lion Open in State College,
Pa., on Dec. 2.