Trio of Gardner-Webb Wrestlers Earn Preseason National Rankings
October 16, 2014 | Wrestling
BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb wrestlers Chris Vassar (141 pounds), Austin Trott (165 pounds) and Hunter Gamble (174 pounds) each appear in preseason national rankings in their respective weight class entering the 2014-2015 campaign.
Trott (Kingsland, Ga. / Camden County HS) is ranked No. 15 by Win Magazine and enters his sophomore season as a strong contender in the Southern Conference at 165 pounds. Last season, Trott posted a 29-9 record and qualified for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, Mo.
Trott had a pair of long win streaks in 2013-2014, winning 10 consecutive bouts from November 2 through November 16 and 11 consecutive between December 29 and February 5. Those two streaks were part of a larger stretch that saw the rangy Trott win 24 of his first 27 matches on the season.
He registered six tech falls, six major decisions and six pins.
Trott is also ranked nationally by WrestleStat (No. 20) and Associated Wrestling Press (No. 24).
Vassar (New Cumberland, Pa. / Cedar Cliff HS) redshirted last season, but was dominant as a non-starter at 141 pounds. The highly-touted newcomer is ranked No. 15 this preseason by WrestleStat and No 16 nationally by Open Mat, and at No. 33 by Associated Wrestling Press.
Vassar rolled to a 20-2 record last season at 141 pounds, earning a No. 1 ranking among non-starters nationally from FloWrestling.com in January. Seven of his victories came via pin and two more were by tech fall.
Vassar also recorded six wins by major decision and wrapped up his season with 10 consecutive wins.
Gamble (McDonough, Ga. / Union Grove HS) returns to the lineup in 2014-2015 after redshirting last season. Gamble captured the 2013 SoCon title and advanced to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis as a true freshman at 174 pounds.
Gamble is ranked No. 34 nationally in his weight class this preseason by WrestleStat.
Last season, Gamble posted a 27-7 record as a non-starter, earning a top-10 ranking last January in his weight class from Flowrestling.com. Among those victories were nine pins, two tech falls and three major decisions.
As a freshman he posted a 24-15 overall mark and rolled through the 2013 SoCon Championships to earn an automatic bid to the NCAAs – winning six of his final nine matches on the season.
The trio is part of a core group of 11 wrestlers returning this season for Gardner-Webb who posted double figures wins in 2013-2014.
Head coach Daniel Elliott and his Runnin' Bulldogs open the 2014-2015 season on Sunday, November 2 at a neutral site – taking on Buffalo and Cumberland in Boone, N.C.
