Mar. 20, 2003

Charleston, SC - Dick Vitale won't be on hand to greet takedowns with cries of "Awesome, baby!" And there are no office pools with the 125-pound bracket pinned to the bulletin board.

But for 330 of the best college wrestlers in the country, including a record four from The Citadel, there is plenty of March madness at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Kansas City, Mo.

"Without a doubt, it's our March madness," said Citadel wrestling coach Rob Hjerling, who will take four sophomores -- Ryan McClester, Sean Markey, Keith Clifton and Billy Linane -- to the NCAAs, which begin today at Kemper Arena. "The U.S. is one of the best wrestling countries in the world, and this is the best college tournament in the country. The elite of the elite will be out there."

The 16,052-seat Kemper Arena usually sells out for the NCAAs, with tickets for Saturday's finals going for as much as $45 each. Fans can watch 920 matches featuring wrestlers from 75 schools on eight mats spread across the arena floor for three days.

"It always sells out," said Hjerling, who wrestled in the NCAA championships himself while at American University.

On Saturday, champions will be crowned in each of 10 weight classes. The top eight in each class will be designated as All-Americans.

That's the goal for The Citadel's four wrestlers. To finish in the top eight, a wrestler typically needs to win four matches at the NCAAs. The Bulldogs have never had an All-American in wrestling, Hjerling said.

"They all have the ability and work ethic to become All-Americans," Hjerling said. "That is what they have worked for, and all four have a legitimate chance to place up there."

Two Bulldogs, Clifton at 184 pounds and heavyweight Linane, won championships at the recent Southern Conference tournament. McClester and Markey, who've been nationally ranked most of the season at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively, received wild-card invitations to the NCAAs.

Markey, a sophomore from Randolph, N.J., was 36-6 this season and led all 133-pounders in the nation with 18 pins. He will face No. 2 seed Cliff Moore of Iowa in the first round.

McClester, a sophomore from Lugoff, had a 31-10 record this season. He could face top-seeded Chris Fleeger of Purdue in the second round at 125 pounds.

The Citadel's two SoCon champs, Clifton and Linane, both won their titles despite being No. 2 seeds at the conference tournament. Clifton, a redshirt sophomore from Colleyville, Texas, was 27-6 this season and will take on No. 10 seed Jake Rosholf of Oklahoma State in the first round.

Linane, a sophomore from Kissimmee, Fla., had a 25-13 record this year and takes on Army's John Paxton in the opening round.

He could face No. 2 seed Kevin Hoy of Air Force in the second round of the double-elimination tournament.

"It's a lot of fun and a lot of wrestling with eight mats going at once," Hjerling said. "And if you can make it to that third day, you're an All-American. It doesn't sound that difficult, but you are competing against the best in the country."

NCAA WRESTLING

What: Championship tournament

When: Today-Saturday

Where: Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Mo.

Citadel qualifiers: Ryan McClester, Sean Markey, Keith Clifton, Billy Linane