Duke 28, Gardner-Webb 19
DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke Blue Devils rallied with victories at 174 and 184 pounds to snatch a 28-19 win over Gardner-Webb on Wednesday evening, answering a major decision by No. 17 Austin Trott with a technical fall and a major decision of their own in the final two bouts.
Duke kicked off the night with a fall victory at 197 pounds, taking an early 6-0 advantage following Connor Hartmann’s 4:13 fall against Terry Henderson. The Blue Devils stretched the lead to 9-0 with a narrow 4-3 decision at heavyweight by Brendan Walsh against Justin Kozera.
Following a trio of forfeits, two in Gardner-Webb’s favor and one for Duke at 125, 133, and 141 pounds, Tyler Ziegler snatched a clutch 3-2 decision at 149 pounds to even the team score at 15-15 for the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
A 12-1 major decision for Duke’s Immanuel Kerr-Brown at 157 pounds against Alex Bennett reclaimed lead for the Blue Devils at 19-15 before Trott answered with a major decision of his own at 165 pounds, earning the 10-1 margin with a late reversal to knot the score at 19-19. The victory extended Trott’s win streak to 10 matches and pushed his overall record to 23-3 this season.
Trey Adamson responded for the Blue Devils at 174 pounds, earning a 20-4 technical fall against Aaron Rabin, and Duke’s Jacob Kasper capped the night with a 13-4 major decision over Zach Bennett at 184 pounds to give the Blue Devils the 28-19 victory.
Gardner-Webb is back in action on Friday, when the Runnin’ Bulldogs host The Citadel in a Southern Conference bout at 7 p.m. in Paul Porter Arena.
Duke 28, Gardner-Webb 19
197 – Conner Hartmann (Duke) won by fall Terry Henderson (GW), 4:13 – 0-6
285 – Brendan Walsh (Duke) dec. Justin Kozera (GW), 4-3 – 0-9
125 – William Anderson (GW) won by forfeit – 6-9
133 – Evan Botwin (Duke) won by forfeit – 6-15
141 – Ryan Mosley (GW) won by forfeit – 12-15
149 – Tyler Ziegler (GW) dec. Jake Faust (Duke), 3-2 – 15-15
157 – Immanuel Kerr-Brown (Duke) major dec. Alexander Bennett (GW); 12-1 – 15-19
165 – No. 17 Austin Trott (GW) major dec. Marcus Cain (Duke); 10-1 – 19-19
174 – Trey Adamson (Duke) tech fall Aaron Rabin (GW) 20-4 – 19-24
184 – Jacob Kasper (Duke) major dec. Zachary Bennett (GW), 13-4 – 19-28