GWU Wrestling to Open Up Season This Week; Set To Host Belmont Abbey on Wednesday Night at 6 p.m.
October 30, 2011 | Wrestling
Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb wrestling team will kick off its 2011-12 season with a home match against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders this Wednesday night, November 2nd, at 6 p.m. in Boiling Springs, N.C. before hitting the road this Sunday, November 6th, to compete at the 2011 Hokie Open in Blacksburg, Va.
Heading into their first season as members of the Southern Conference this season, the Gardner-Webb wrestling program was picked to finish fourth overall in the Southern Conference Wrestling Preseason Coaches Poll, announced today by the Conference office. The Runnin' Bulldogs received a total of 17 points, edging out fellow newcomer Campbell who came in fifth-place with 16 total points.
Gardner-Webb was one of three schools - Campbell and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville - joined the Southern Conference as associate members in the sport of wrestling beginning in 2011-12. The move will provide Gardner-Webb with a chance to compete for a true conference crown for the first time in the program's 22-year history.
Gardner-Webb returns three NCAA Qualifiers and East Regional Champions from a year ago in Alex Medved, Ryan Medved and Travis Porter, as the trio headlines a strong core roster in 2011-12. Also returning this season is Michael Slaughter, who redshirted last season, Justin Guthrie, Erin O'Dell, Alex Hamm, Blake Salyer, Morgan McDaniel, Robbie Golde and Jake Reinemund who all saw time on the mat last season for GWU.
Belmont Abbey, who will also be opening their season on Wednesday night, is ranked seventh in the NCAA Preseason Super Region II with four wrestlers ranked individually in Shane Summerlin (eighth at 125), Will James (fourth at 141), Jake Varilek (second at 157) and Jerami Bartley (fifth at 184).
To view the complete week one wrestling weekly match notes click on the attached pdf or go to the match notes link on the top menu of the wrestling home page.
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| Week One Wrestling Match Notes |
