BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Citadel used an impressive performance against Gardner-Webb to split a pair of matches on the opening weekend of Southern Conference action. The Bulldogs dropped a hard-fought, 17-15, decision to Chattanooga in the first match, before coming back for the 32-9 win over Gardner-Webb in the second match.
 
Chattanooga 17, The Citadel 15
157 – Weston Wichman (UTC) MD Grant Speer (CIT), 11-3
165 – Andrew Nicholson (UTC) DEC Dazjon Casto (CIT), 5-3
174 – Cole Burke (CIT) DEC Carial Tarter (UTC), 8-4
184 – Kyle Kretzer (CIT) DEC No. 12 Caleb Waddell (UTC), 6-1
197 – Logan Andrew (UTC) DEC Ben Stemmet (CIT), 10-3
HWT – Michael McAleavey (CIT) DEC Grayson Walthall (UTC), 3-1
125 – No. 19 Fabian Gutierrez (UTC) MD Joride White (CIT), 11-2
133 – Jake Rotunda (CIT) DEC Colton Landers (UTC), 8-4
141 – Franco Valdes (UTC) DEC Ethan Willis (CIT), 10-4   
149 – Selwyn Porter (CIT) DEC Aidan Murphy (UTC), 5-2
EXTRA
149 – George Coleman (UTC) Fall Sebastian Collazo (CIT), 0:46
 
How it Happened

• Cole Burke got the Bulldogs on the board with a late surge. He entered the final period trailing 4-3. He was able to control from the top the entire period, then worked for a near fall as time expired. He added the bonus point for the 8-4 final.
• Kyle Kretzer kept the momentum going in the next match as he used takedowns in the first and third periods to secure the 6-1 victory over No. 12 Caleb Waddell.
• Michael McAleavey continued his strong start to the season. He got on the board with a takedown in the first period, and then used an escape in the third to secure the 3-1 victory.
• Jake Rotunda used a big third period for a comeback victory. He entered the final period trailing 4-1. He got the takedown to pull within one point and then took the lead with a near fall. He added a bonus point for the final margin.
• Selwyn Porter closed out the match with an impressive 5-2 victory. The match was tied 2-2 heading into the final period before Porter secured a takedown with less than a minute remaining.
• The two-point margin was the closest since the Bulldogs fell 22-20 on Jan. 27, 2013.

 
The Citadel 32, Gardner-Webb 9
157 – Grant Speer (CIT) DEC Chase McKinney (GWU), 5-2
165 – RJ Mosley (GWU) DEC Dazjon Casto (CIT), 6-1
174 – Cole Burke (CIT) DEC Samuel Mora (GSU), 7-4
184 – Jha'Quan Alexander (GWU) DEC Kyle Kretzer (CIT), 6-3
197 – Ben Stemmet (CIT) FALL Jack Trautman (GWU) 7:34
HWT – Michael McAleavey (CIT) FALL Gabe Picket (GWU), 2:01
125 – Jordie White FALL Aedyn Concepcion (GWU), 6:08
133 – Jake Rotunda TF Todd Carter (GWU), 16-0 (4:55)
141 – Trevon Majette (GWU) DEC Ethan Willis (CIT), 8-4
149 – Selwyn Porter MD Anthony Scheiss (GWU), 13-4
EXTRA
149 – Brandon Bright (GWU) Fall Tyler Seeley (CIT), 2:56
157 – Joseph Mecham (GWU) MD Sebastian Collazo (CIT), 18-7
184 – Jha'Quan Alexander (GWU) MD Cooper Youngblood (CIT), 16-5
 
Howi it Happened

• Grant Speer started the match with a victory at 157 pounds. He took advantage of an early takedown, and then secured the victory with his second takedown later in the match.
• The Bulldogs were assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and had a point removed. The Citadel trailed 3-2 after two matches.
• Cole Burke gave the Bulldogs the lead back at 174 in a very tight match. With the match tied 4-4 and less than a minute to go, Burke was able to secure a takedown and take a 6-4 lead. He added the riding time bonus for the three-point victory.
• Ben Stemmet had one of the most exciting matches of the day as he battled with Jack Trautman through three periods. Stemmet was able to avoid a takedown early in overtime and turned it into a takedown. He quickly used the takedown to secure the fall and six points for the Bulldogs.
• Michael McAleavey followed up that match by needing only 2:01 to secure a fall of his own at heavyweight.
• Jordie White continued the scoring for The Citadel as he jumped out with a takedown and nearly secured the fall before the second period ended. He was not discouraged as he came out in the third period and secured the fall.
• Jake Rotunda was dominant from the beginning at 133 pounds and he cruised his way to a 16-0 technical fall victory in just 4:55. Rotunda used three near falls on his way to victory.
• After getting taken down early, Selwyn Porter rebounded to secure a majority decision victory at 149 pounds. Porter controlled the second period from on top, then secured three takedowns of his own in the final two minutes.

 
Up Next
The Bulldogs return to the mat on Jan. 24 as they travel to Louisville, Kentucky for a pair of SoCon duals. The Citadel will face Presbyterian at 10 a.m., and then face host Bellarmine at noon.