Dec. 6, 2003

Chapel Hill, NC - Citadel wrestlers Ryan McClester and Sean Markey both won titles at this afternoon's Rubbermaid Open hosted by North Carolina. McClester brought home the 125-pound title and Markey earned first place in the 133-pound weight class.

McClester, a junior from Lugoff, SC, posted an undefeated 4-0 mark in the Rubbermaid Open to take the title. The 11th ranked wrestler in the country by WIN Magazine, McClester took down North Carolina's Chris Rodriguez, who is ranked 16th, in the finals with a 5-3 decision.

Markey, a junior from Randolph, NJ, also posted an unblemished record in his bracket with a 5-0 mark. Of his five wins, four were by fall including a fall at the 1:52 mark in the finals as he pinned VMI's Micah Amrozowicz. Markey came into the Rubbermaid Open with a national ranking of 11th by the WIN Magazine and Amateur Wrestling News. Citadel coach Rob Hjerling's squad also had five other grapplers place as sophomore Travis Piccard brought home second and heavyweight Billy Linane took fourth. Linane entered the tournament ranked 20th by by the WIN Magazine and Amateur Wrestling News.

The trio of junior Brad Ragan (125), sophomore Dan Thompson(157) and freshman Levi Duyn (141), all captured fifth place finishes for the Bulldogs.

Following a break for exams, Hjerling's wrestlers will travel to Reno, NV on December 18th to grapple in the Reno Tournament of Champions, which includes the reigning 2003 NCAA National Championship Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Dogs will return home on January 20th as they host Anderson in McAlister Field House at 7 pm.

125-pounds Ryan McClester - 4-0 - First Place Justin Shoemaker - 1-2 Brad Ragan - 5-1 - Fifth Place Daniel Ruiz - 0-2

133-pounds Sean Markey - 5-0 - First Place Mauro Bria - 0-2

141-pounds Nolan Roggenkamp - 1-2 Alex Piper - 2-2 Kenneth Melvin - 0-2 Levi Duyn - 5-1 - Fifth Place

149-pounds Travis Piccard - 4-1 - Second Place Jacob Allman - 3-3

157-pounds Dan Thompson - 5-2 - Fifth Place Derik Neitz - 2-2 Mike Martinez - 4-2

165-pounds David Wipperman - 2-2

174-pounds James Rose - 2-2 Darius Caldwell - 0-2

184-pounds John Dickerson - 4-2 John Buck - 0-2

197-pounds Nick Leone - 0-2

Heavyweight Billy Linane - 3-2 - Fourth Place Jordan Everett - 3-2