Dec. 29, 2003

Greensboro, NC - Sean Markey took the 133-pound title at the first annual Southern Scuffle hosted by UNC Greensboro, leading The Citadel to a fourth place finish in the team competition. Three others Bulldogs place at two-day tournament.

The Bulldogs finished in fourth place out of 23 total teams with 68 points. Coach Rob Hjerling's squad finished behind Edinboro, who finished in third with 108 points. The team championship was won by Missouri with a total of 185 points. The Citadel was the highest placing Southern Conference team VMI finishing one spot behind the Bulldogs in fifth.

Markey, who was the top seed at 133, posted an unblemished 4-0 record to win the 133-pound title. Markey defeated Minnesota's Quincy Osborn in the finals to earn the crown. He used two falls and one tech fall to advance to the championship rounds. McClester, a junior 125-pounder who was seeded second to begin the tournament, placed fourth with a 3-2 mark, while Brad Ragan earned valuable team points for the Bulldogs with a 4-2 record in the tournament at 125 pounds.

Junior Billy Linane (HWT) finished sixth, while junior Keith Clifton (174) chipped in five wins and a fifth place finish as he defeated Duke's Levi Craig to propel the Dogs to fourth in the team competition.

Other notables include junior Brad Ragan who posted four wins at 125 pounds and freshman Levi Duyn who gave the Bulldogs three victories.

The Citadel grapplers will return to the mats on January 9, as they take part in the two-day Virginia Duals in Hampton, VA. The Bulldogs will then travel to Campbell on January 17 before returning home to host Anderson on January 20 in McAlister Field House at 7 pm.

Citadel Individual Results

125 Ryan McClester 3-2

Brad Ragan 4-2

133 Sean Markey 4-0

141 Levi Duyn 3-2

Nolan Roggenkamp 0-2

149 N/A

157 Derik Neitz 0-2

165 Mike Martinez 2-2

174 Keith Clifton 5-2

184 John Dickerson 1-2

197 N/A

HWT Billy Linane 4-3