Gardner-Webb University Athletics

A native of Burton, Ohio, Porter put together an illustrious career while donning the Gardner-Webb singlet from 2005-2010. After redshirting his rookie season at GWU, Porter started to immediately make an impact on the mat as he won the first of four East Region Titles while advancing to the NCAA Championship in each of his final four seasons. During that season he was able to lead the Runnin' Bulldogs with 28 wins, five coming via pin.
 
That was only the beginning for Porter as he followed that up in 2007-08 with his second consecutive East Region Title after winning three straight matches to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship. Once again, Porter led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 28 wins.
 
During the 2008-09 campaign, Porter began to receive national recognition after being nationally ranked for the majority of the season, jumping to as high as No. 10 in the country. He was able to grab a career high 31wins while going 21-2 in dual matches.
 
Porter wrapped up his final year with the Runnin' Bulldogs, placing 5^th at the Southern Scuffle before capturing his fourth and final East Region Crown. One year after graduation Porter placed in the top 7 at the US Open Tournament, qualifying him for the world team trials. He was ranked in the top 10 on the Olympic ladder in the heavyweight division from 2-11-2013.
 
When asked what it means to be selected into the 2024 GWU Hall of Fame Class, Porter replied, "Building things has become my life's work. That journey began at Gardner-Webb University, with the goal of building the wrestling program at the Division I level. Being inducted into the University's Hall of Fame is the greatest validation of achieving that goal I could possibly imagine."
 
"For many years I struggled with the fact that my career aspirations did not equal my career accomplishments," added Porter. "Only with the passage of time have I been able to appreciate the significance of my accomplishment."