SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI’s Neal Richards has been named the Southern Conference wrestler of the week for all competition from Jan. 23-29 the league office announced Wednesday. This selection was his fourth of the year.  

Richards won three matches this past weekend at the All-Academy Championship, taking the individual title at 174 pounds. He defeated Army’s Brad Laughlin by a fall 5:39 and Air Force’s Andy Meneweather by a 11-4 decision before taking down No. 18 ranked Spencer Carey of Navy by a fall in 1:42.

The South Chesterfield, Virginia, native is now 22-3 on the season with eight pins, four technical falls, five major decisions, and a 15 match win streak that dates back to mid-November. Richards was recognized by The Open Mat on Monday in their Top Ten Performances of the Week, coming in at number seven. He has climbed into the top 20 in the Intermat Division 1 Individual rankings, placing 19^th this week at 174 pounds.

He is second wrestler in conference history to be selected as wrestler of the week four times in a single season. The first being Chattanooga’s Matt Keller during the 2005-06 season. Richards is the third wrestler in conference history to be selected as wrestler of the week three-straight times in a single season (the last two being The Citadel’s Ugi Khistignyam and The Citadel’s Odie Delaney, both during the 2012-13 season) and the fourth wrestler to be selected as wrestler of the week four times over the course of their career.

The Keydets will travel to Lancester, Pennsylvania on Friday to take on Franklin & Marshall before going to Buies Creek, North Carolina, on Tuesday for a conference match up against Gardner-Webb.

Also nominated: Irvin Enriquez (Appalachian State), Sawyer Root (The Citadel), Kyle Gorant (Davidson) and Chris Debien (Chattanooga).

2018-19 SoCon Wrestlers of the Week

Nov. 7        Fabian Gutierrez, Chattanooga

Nov. 14       Angel Najar, Appalachian State

Nov. 21       Andrew Morgan, Campbell

Nov. 27       Randall Diabe, Appalachian State

Dec. 5        Sawyer Root, The Citadel

Dec. 12       Neal Richards, VMI

Dec. 19       Michael Elliott, Appalachian State

Dec. 26       Jake Huffine, Chattanooga

Jan. 2         Randall Diabe, Appalachian State

Jan. 9         Alonzo Allen, Chattanooga

Jan. 16       Neal Richards, VMI

Jan. 23       Neal Richards, VMI

Jan. 30       Neal Richards, VMI