Campbell edges The Citadel
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell’s wrestling team squeezed past The Citadel 19-16 on Thursday for the Camels’ second dual win in a row. Jere Heino was the star as he sealed the victory with a takedown over Joe Bexley (CIT) in the third period of the heavyweight bout to go up 3-2 with 0:20 left on the clock.
Campbell improves to 2-11, 2-2 in the Southern Conference, while The Citadel falls to 4-7 and 1-3 in the league. The Camels take to the mat again on Sunday as they travel to Boiling Springs, N.C., to take on the Runnin' Bulldogs from Gardner-Webb. The Citadel is back in action on Saturday for the All Academy Championships in Lexington, Virginia. Eight teams will take part in the all-day tournament.
The night started on the right foot for Campbell with Collin Stewart picking up his first dual win at 125 pounds over Charles Kearney to give the Camels the first team points of the match (3-0).
Redshirt junior Nathan Kraisser extended the Campbell lead as he racked up a 21-4 technical fall over Caleb Smith for five more team points, giving the Camels an 8-0 lead over the Bulldogs.
The Citadel grapplers battled back as they took the next three bouts and the lead, 10-8. Tyler Buckiso earned an 8-4 decision over Luke Stewart at 141 pounds. Matt Frisch earned another three team points with his 4-0 decision over Kaleb Warner in the 149-pound bout.
Aaron Walker pushed the Bulldogs past the Camels as he racked up 14 points on his way to a major decision over Quentin Perez (15 pounds).
With five weight classes remaining, redshirt senior Paul Duggan took to the mat, facing Daniel Smith at 165 pounds. The first period was quiet until Duggan got a takedown with 33 seconds remaining on the clock.
The two entered the third period with the score sitting at 4-1 and Duggan having 1:07 of riding time when the Campbell grappler put on the pressure and recorded four takedowns. Duggan emerged the victor with a 13-5 major decision and regained the lead for Campbell (12-10).
Tim Knipl won the 174-pound bout as he earned the 8-4 decision over newcomer Alex Vosburgh to swing the score in favor of The Citadel (13-12).
Ville Heino stepped up next for the Camels at 184 pounds to take on Sawyer Root in a rematch from the teams’ showdown at the Virginia Duals. Heino earned the takedown and followed with a four-point near fall to close out the first period. He earned an escape and another takedown in the second for the last points of the bout as the third went scoreless. Heino defeated Root for the second time this season with a 9-0 major decision, giving Campbell the 16-13 lead.
Austin McNeill took to the mat against Marshall Haas at 197 pounds knowing the match was neck-and-neck. Haas earned two takedowns in the first period to go up 4-2 with 1:55 of riding time over McNeill.
Haas stretched his lead in the second, going up 7-2 on an escape and a takedown combo, and finished the bout with an 8-3 decision, tying the match at 16 points apiece.
Much like the match at the Virginia Duals, the outcome came down to the last bout. Jere Heino and Joe Bexley squared off in a rematch from three weeks ago in the heavyweight matchup.
The pair went scoreless in the first period, with Heino choosing down to start the second. He earned the escape only to have Bexley counter with a takedown to lead 2-1 heading into the third.
After starting in neutral, the duo grappled for advantage, but it was Heino who got the takedown with 20 seconds left on the clock to win the bout 3-2 and give the Camels their second consecutive win, 19-16.
Campbell 19, The Citadel 16
125 Collin Stewart (CAMP) over Charles Kearney (CIT) (Dec 6-3)
133 Nathan Kraisser (CAMP) over Caleb Smith (CIT) (TF 21-4 5:29)
141 Ty Buckiso (CIT) over Luke Stewart (CAMP) (Dec 8-4)
149 Matt Frisch (CIT) over Kaleb Warner (CAMP) (Dec 4-0)
157 Aaron Walker (CIT) over Quentin Perez (CAMP) (MD 14-3)
165 Paul Duggan (CAMP) over Daniel Smith (CIT) (MD 13-5)
174 Tim Knipl (CIT) over Alex Vosburgh (CAMP) (Dec 8-4)
184 Ville Heino (CAMP) over Sawyer Root (CIT) (MD 9-0)
197 Marshall Haas (CIT) over Austin McNeil (CAMP) (Dec 8-3)
285 Jere Heino (CAMP) over Joe Bexley (CIT) (Dec 3-2)