CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel wrestling team will begin its 2015-16 campaign on Saturday morning inside McAlister Field House at 9 a.m. when it host SoCon rival VMI for the Bruegger's Bagels Wakeup Takedown Challenge. This will be the first dual for both teams this season.
 
"This is obviously a huge weekend for both schools, first dual of the year, SoCon implications and first weigh-in and match for a lot of wrestlers," head coach Rob Hjerling said "We're happy to be a part of the Homecoming weekend and this should be exciting way to start the season."
 
The Bulldogs return 2015 NCAA National Championship qualifiers senior Matt Frisch and junior Aaron Walker as well as Joe Bexley, a 2015 Southern Conference finalist. Marshall Haas, the 2014 SoCon 197-lb champion also returns for his fifth year after going 20-15 overall last season. Frisch and Walker have already received SoCon honors this season as both were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team for their respective weight classes. Walker was also ranked 14th in the nation in the preseason by InterMat.
 
The Bulldogs add five freshmen to this year's squad and only lost two seniors from a team that went 7-6 overall and 5-2 in the SoCon last season. In preseason voting, the team was picked third in the conference behind Chattanooga and Appalachian State.
 
The top returners for VMI will include senior Emmitt Kelly, who at the 141-lb mark last year, took third place in the SoCon tournament. Kelly finished with a 12-10 overall record. Shabaka Johns also returns for the Keydets after finishing with a 24-11 overall record last season. The junior finished second at the SoCon tournament in the 165-lb division. Derek Thurman finished fourth for the Keydets in the SoCon Championships last season in the 184-lb weight class and earned a 10-12 overall record for the 2015 season.
 
Competition is set to begin at 9 a.m. and admission is free. There will be assorted bagels, coffee and other beverages from Bruegger's Bagels for the first 250 fans at McAlister Field House. Results will be available at CitadelSports.com upon completion of the day's events.
 
For more information on The Citadel wrestling, follow @CitadelWrestle or visit CitadelSports.com.