SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI’s Neal Richards has been named the Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week for all competition from Jan. 22-28. The selection is made by the league office.
 
Richards posted a 3-0 record on Jan. 25 at the All-Academy Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to take the individual title at 174 pounds. The redshirt senior from South Chesterfield, Virginia, opened the tournament with a pin of The Citadel’s Kyle Kretzer before taking a 9-3 decision over A.J. Aeberli of Coast Guard. Richards was matched up with 20^th-ranked Spencer Carey of Navy in the final as he pulled out a 4-3 decision to repeat as champion. Richards now has an overall record of 30-6 and was ranked at No. 16 at 174 pounds in the first coaches’ panel ranking.
 
The weekly award is the sixth of Richard’s career.
 
The Keydets will hit the mat again on Feb. 7 when they travel to face Bloomsburg for a 7 p.m. dual.
 
Also nominated: Thomas Flitz (Appalachian State), Noah Gonser (Campbell), Selwyn Porter (The Citadel) and Matthew Waddell (Chattanooga).
 
2019-20 SoCon Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 6        Quentin Perez, Campbell
Nov. 13       Andrew Morgan, Campbell
Nov. 20       Jonathan Millner, Appalachian State
Nov. 27       Josh Heil, Campbell
Dec. 4        Sean Carter, Appalachian State
Dec. 11       Conor Fenn, Davidson
Dec. 18       Korbin Meink, Campbell
Dec. 24       Fabian Gutierrez, Chattanooga
Jan. 8         Josh Heil, Campbell
Jan. 15       Noah Gonser, Campbell
Jan. 22       Codi Russell, Appalachian State
Jan. 29       Neal Richards, VMI