SIUE tops The Citadel; Bulldogs fall to Northern Illinois
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Dakota Leach's second-period pin at 133 pounds gave SIUE wrestling an early lead as the Cougars clipped The Citadel 18-16 Sunday in a Southern Conference dual at the Vadalabene Center. The Bulldogs also dropped a 24-19 decision to Northern Illinois.
It was SIUE's first-ever victory over The Citadel in four meetings against the Bulldogs. SIUE improved to 2-8 overall and 1-3 in the SoCon. The Citadel, which was ranked third in the SoCon preseason poll, fell to 4-5 overall and 1-1 in the SoCon.
Leach pulled out a pin in 3 minutes, 56 seconds over The Citadel's Caleb Smith. After being taken down in the first period, Smith chose the bottom position in the second period only to be caught in a cradle.
SIUE's John Fahy also earned a huge victory at 149 pounds. Fahy bested three-time NCAA qualifier and two-time defending Southern Conference champion Matt Frisch with a 6-4 sudden victory. Fahy gained a takedown in the first overtime period.
The Cougars also picked up three straight wins from Nate Higgins (165), Clayton Bass (174) and Derek Nagel (184) for the team victory.
The Cougars have four dual meets planned for next week. SIUE travels to Brookings, South Dakota, for Friday duals against Cal State Bakersfield and South Dakota State. Next Sunday, SIUE face SoCon rival Davidson and Grand Canyon at the Vadalabene Center.
In its second dual of the day, The Citadel fell down early, trailing 14-0 heading in to the 149 bout. Frisch and Aaron Walker swung momentum in the Bulldogs favor, though, earning six quick points each behind two pins. Frisch pinned Gabe Morse in just 49 seconds and Walker followed with a win by fall in 3:29, closing the Huskies’ lead to two.
Northern Illinois won the next two bouts by decision and major decision to increase its lead to 21-12. Sawyer Root stopped the Huskies’ run at 184 pounds when the freshman earned the 11-2 major decision win over Quinton Rosser to make the score 21-16 with two weight classes remaining.
Next on the mat would be Marshall Haas against No. 19 Shawn Scott. The senior kept it close but was eventually edged by a 6-5 decision, giving the Huskies a 24-16 lead and, with only one weight class remaining, the win.
The Bulldogs return to the mat on Wednesday when they host No. 25 Appalachian State inside McAlister Field House for their third SoCon dual of the season. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m. and live video and stats will be available at CitadelSports.com.
SIUE 18, The Citadel 16
125 - Charles Kearney (The Citadel) over Joe Antonelli (SIUE) (Dec 7-4)
133 - Dakota Leach (SIUE) over Caleb Smith (The Citadel) (Fall 3:56)
141 - Tyler Buckiso (The Citadel) over John Muldoon (SIUE) (Dec 8-2)
149 - John Fahy (SIUE) over Matthew Frisch (The Citadel) (SV-1 6-4)
157 - Aaron Walker (The Citadel) over Erik Travers (SIUE) (MD 17-5)
165 - Nate Higgins (SIUE) over Daniel Smith (The Citadel) (Dec 8-2)
174 - Clayton Bass (SIUE) over Timothy Knipl (The Citadel) (Dec 6-0)
184 - Derek Nagel (SIUE) over Sawyer Root (The Citadel) (Dec 5-4)
197 - Marshall Haas (The Citadel) over Jake Tindle (SIUE) (Dec 9-4)
285 - Joseph Bexley (The Citadel) over Chris Johnson (SIUE) (SV-1 4-2)
Northern Illinois 24, The Citadel 19
125 - Alijah Jeffrey (NIU) over Charles Kearney (The Citadel) (TF 17‐1 2:23)
133 - Austin Eicher (NIU) over Caleb Smith (The Citadel) (Fall 2:39)
141 - Steve Bleise (NIU) over Ty Buckiso (The Citadel) (Dec 9‐4)
149 - Matt Frisch (The Citadel) over Gabe Morse (NIU) (Fall 0:49)
157 - Aaron Walker (The Citadel) over Andrew Scott (NIU) (Fall 3:29)
165 - Shaun ‘Qae McMurtry (NIU) over Daniel Smith (The Citadel) (Dec. 9‐4)
174 - Trace Engelkes (NIU) over Timothy Knipl (The Citadel) (MD 16‐2)
184 - Sawyer Root (The Citadel) over Quinton Rosser (NIU) (MD 11‐2)
197 - Shawn Scott (NIU) over Marshall Haas (The Citadel) (Dec. 6‐5)
285 - Joe Bexley (The Citadel) over Arthur Bunce (NIU) (Dec. 7‐3)
Davidson tops Anderson
DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Davidson wrestling team won eight of its 10 bouts en route to a 45-5 victory over Anderson at Belk Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats registered bonus points in six matches.
Camden Bertucci put the Wildcats on the board with a technical fall over Tyler Fitzpatrick. Bertucci registered eight back points in the second period to earn win by the score of 17-0.
After falling at 133 pounds, Davidson went on to win the next five weight classes.
At 149 pounds, Aidan Conroy came out on fire, registering a takedown followed by 16 back points in the first period to earn a technical fall over Dylan Crossland, 19-0.
At 157, Tony Palumbo raced out to a 14-0 lead in the first minutes of the opening period before William Dickerson registered an escape. Palumbo secured the bout with a takedown at the 2:31 mark to earn a 17-1 technical fall.
In his first match of the season, Adam Flatt registered a pin over Jared Costa at 165 pounds. At 197 pounds, Michael Moore also registered a pin over Vojtech Velecky, while Will Cooley pinned Timothy Williams at 285 pounds.
Davidson is back in action Tuesday, Jan. 19, with a dual at Belmont Abbey.
Davidson 45, Anderson 5
125: Camden Bertucci (DAV) tech. fall over Tyler Fitzpatrick (AU) 17-0
133: Derek Bohle (AU) decision over Dustin Runzo (DAV) 8-2
141: Billy McClelland (DAV) win by forfeit
149: Aidan Conroy (DAV) tech. fall over Dylan Crossland (AU) 19-0
157: Tony Palumbo (DAV) tech. fall over William Dickerson (AU) 17-1
165: Adam Flatt (DAV) fall over Jared Costa (AU) Fall, 5:16
174: Nathaniel Powers (DAV) win by forfeit
184: Michael Gallagher (AU) decision over Konner Pritchard (DAV) TB-2, 5-3
197: Michael Moore (DAV) fall over Vojtech Velecky (AU) Fall, 2:37
285: Will Cooley (DAV) fall over Timothy Williams (AU) Fall, 2:31