CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Citadel wrestling program initiates the 2025-26 campaign on Sunday, Nov. 2, trekking north to Salem, Va., for the Southeast Open, a one-day individual tournament hosted by Virginia Tech at the Cregger Center.

Throughout a banner 2024-25 campaign, The Citadel compiled a 10-4 overall record -- marking back-to-back double-digit win seasons for the program -- en route to a second overall finish at the Southern Conference Championship, coming up just one victory short (285 lb championship) of securing the team title. Individually, the Bulldogs claimed three individual SoCon titles via way of Gylon Sims (125 lbs), Carson DesRosier (149 lbs) and Thomas Snipes (165 lbs) while Patrick Brophy (197 lbs) and John Chesser (285 lbs) locked down silver medals within their weight classes as well.

"I am looking forwards to getting season up and running," interim head coach Luke Welch said. "The guys looked good at the intrasquad event where they got to compete against their teammates. The new season brings new opportunities and challenges but they have been steadily working and moving forwards towards their goals. I'm just super excited to see the guys compete and I'm looking forward to watching their growth on the mat, in the classroom and as young men."

Welch, a graduate of Purdue, joined his predecessor Ryan LeBlanc at The Citadel when the latter took the head coaching position prior to the 2020-21 campaign. Since then, the duo has overseen eight NCAA Wrestling Championship qualifiers -- Michael McAleavy (2021 & 2022), Dazjon Casto (2022), Jeff Boyd (2024), Gylon Sims (2025), Carson DesRosier (2025), Thomas Snipes (2025) & Patrick Brophy (2025) -- along with five Southern Conference individual champions and a total 41 victories across five seasons of action.

Following the Southeast Open to launch the season, the Bulldogs endure a tough non-conference schedule -- including major duals against George Mason, Air Force, Maryland, Michigan State and North Carolina State -- from November through mid-January, finally shifting focus to SoCon competition on Sunday, Jan. 18 at Campbell. The Bulldogs conclude the season at the Southern Conference Championship, a two-day individual competition slated for Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7 in Asheville, N.C.