SoCon Announces Wrestler of the Week

SPARTANBURG, SC – The Citadel redshirt junior Thomas Snipes was named Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week following the 2025-26 season’s first official competition.

Snipes (Simpsonville, SC / Hillcrest HS) captured first place at 165 pounds at the one-day Southeast Open hosted by Virginia Tech in Salem, VA, on Sunday with a 4-0 record. Snipes picked up a major decision to start the day and defeated Davidson senior Tanner Peake – ranked No. 24 nationally by WrestleStat and No. 27 by Intermat – in the semifinals to set up a rematch from the 2025 NCAA Championships with 10^th ranked Andrew Sparks of Minnesota. Snipes avenged his loss to Sparks last March in Philadelphia, capturing a 2-1 decision to win the 165-pound title.

The win vaulted Sparks to No. 10 (FloWrestling) and No. 18 (Intermat) in this week’s national rankings at 165.

Snipes is the defending SoCon Most Outstanding Wrestler, earning that honor after an impressive run to a SoCon title and NCAA automatic bid at 165 pounds last spring at the Explore Asheville 2025 SoCon Wrestling Championships. His efforts led The Citadel to a second-place finish as a team. Snipes went 28-9 last season overall (7-1 SoCon) and won three matches in Asheville. Snipes rallied after a narrow 4-2 loss to Sparks in the opening round of the NCAA Championships to capture a win over Ohio State’s Paddy Gallagher in the consolation first round.

The Citadel will wrestle Williams College, Bloomsburg, and George Mason on November 8 at the 2025 George Mason Duals, before returning to the Low Country to host the second annual Throwdown on the Yorktown on November 15.

Results

#10/18 Thomas Snipes (4-0) – 165 (1^st Place Southeast Open)

Win vs. Dawson Bond (App State) by major decision (12-2)

Win over Anthony Federico (Southeastern) by decision (5-2)

Win vs. #24/27 Tanner Peake (Davidson) by default (6-0, 1:10)

Win vs. #10/11 Andrew Sparks (Minnesota) by decision (2-1)

Also Nominated: Musa Tamaradze (App State, 133), Daulton Mayer (Bellarmine, 285), Colby Crouch (Campbell, 125), Ty Tice (Chattanooga, 125), Cody Kirk (Davidson, 184), T.K. Davis (Gardner-Webb, 133) Beau Lewis (VMI, 174).