Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb's Dustin
Porter had a stellar career at Gardner-Webb, as the redshirt-senior
leaves the Bulldog wrestling program as one of the most celebrated
student-athletes in its storied history.
Porter, who wrapped up his career this season at the 2010 NCAA
National Championships in Omaha, Nebraska in March, is
Gardner-Webb's first and only four-time regional champion and
national qualifier having accomplished this feat in each of the
last four years.
The heavyweight, which has been a staple in the GWU line up over
the last four years, has beaten opponents in the top-10 nationally,
in each of his four years at Gardner-Webb, reaching as high as No.
11 in the national rankings himself over his illustrious
career.
Porter, who redshirted his freshman year, posted a record of 108-30
over his final four years at GWU and placed in the top-five twice
at the highly touted Southern Scuffle tournament, finishing fourth
in 2009 and fifth in 2008 at the 285-pound weight class. He also
has led the team in wins in each of the last four years, tallying
30 wins or more in each of his first two years on the mat for
GWU.
Not only has Porter helped GWU on the mat, he has also helped put
the Gardner-Webb wrestling program on the map in the Midwest so to
speak, as outside of Porter himself, five other Bulldogs hail from
the state of Ohio, including Porter's younger brother Travis and
cousin Jason Porter.
"Dustin has been a very vital part of our wrestling team over the
last few years," stated Assistant Coach and former Gardner-Webb
wrestling standout Daniel Elliott. "He is one of the toughest
wrestlers we've ever had come through the program, never missing a
single competition or match. His contributions will be greatly
missed and it will be hard to replace a wrestler like Dustin
Porter."
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