CHARLESTON, S.C. – Gardner-Webb's unattached wrestlers posted three top-four finishes Saturday at the 2014 Citadel Open, paced by freshman Tyler Marinelli's runner up effort at 149 pounds.
Freshman Landon LoAlbo (Virginia Beach, Va. / Cox HS) placed fourth at 125 pounds and sophomore Cole Graves (Owings, Md. / Spalding HS) captured third place at 149 pounds.
Marinelli (Jefferson, Ga. / Jefferson HS) started at a high level, blistering UNC Pembroke's Ribyan McLain for a 17-0 tech fall (4:09) in his opening match – and registering a 10-1 major decision over Calen King. He then defeated King University's Frank Yattoni (8-6) and NC State's Chandler Pyke (8-1) to advance to the finals.
Marinelli dropped a 4-1 decision to NC State's Kevin Jack in the title bout. It was a matchup of two freshmen who were three-time state champions in their respective home states.
LoAlbo started red hot as well, pinning Jason Adams in 2:12, recording a 12-2 major decision over Limestone's Jonathen Lopez and pinning UCF's David Richards in 3:01. He recovered from a 10-4 loss to Old Dominions' Josh Markham to pin King's Jon Boatman in only 1:15. LoAlbo dropped a 6-2 decision to Devane Dodgens in the third-place bout.
Graves posted an impressive 17-3 major decision in his opening matchup at 149 pounds, then recovered from a loss to NC State's Chandler Pyke to pin Ribyan McClain in only 25 seconds. He followed with a 7-6 decision over Yattoni, pinned King's Landon Reed and exacted revenge in the third-place match by defeating Pyke, 9-6.
2014 Citadel Open Results (Gardner-Webb)
125: Landon LoAlbo (4-2) | 4th Place
pinned Jason Adams (BWC), 2:12
def. Jonathen Lopez (LIM), 12-2 (major dec.)
pinned David Richards (UCF), 3:01
lost to Josh Markham (ODU), 10-4
pinned Jon Boatman (KIN), 1:15
lost to Devane Dodgens (UNA), 6-2 (3rd Place Match)
133: William Anderson (2-2)
def. Jonathan Contreras (SMC), 13-7
def. Timothy Britt (LIF), 7-1
pinned by Nathan Kraisser (CAM), 1:01
lost to Jamel Sharp (DAR), 4-1
133: Jayson Guardado (1-2)
pinned by Emilio Saavedra (ODU), 2:35
def. Arman Badrudeen (UCF), 12-1 (major dec.)
lost to Timothy Randolph (LIF), 8-6
133: Brayden Hartley (3-2)
def. Lucas Setzer (UNCP), 7-2
lost to Timony Britt (LIF), 13-3 (major dec.)
def. Kelly Kircher (SMC), 6-0
def. Jonathan Contreras (SMC), 5-3
lost to Asher Goodwin (UNCP), 16-0, tech fall (4:59)
141: Joby Armenta (4-2)
pinned Grant Snyder (LIM), 6:00
lost to Charles Huff (COK), 5-4
def. Joel Madak (CID), 4-2
def. Tanner Stephens (ODU), 8-7
def. Nicholas Anthony (UCF), 11-0 (major dec.)
lost to Nate Harper (CID), 2-1
149: Cole Graves (5-1) | 3rd Place
def. Tristan Sommer (COK), 17-3 (major dec.)
lost to Chandler Pyke (NCS), 8-1
pinned Ribyan McClain (UNCP), 0:25
def. Frank Yattoni (KIN), 7-6
pinned Landon Reed (KIN), 2:00
def. Chandler Pyke (NCS), 9-6
149: Tyler Marinelli (4-1) | 2nd Place
def. Ribyan McLain (UNCP), 17-0, tech fall (4:09)
def. Calen King (TMC), 10-1 (major dec.)
def. Frank Yattoni (KIN), 8-6
def. Chandler Pyke (NCS), 8-1
lost to Kevin Jack (NCS), 4-1
149: Dallas Roemer (1-2)
pinned Andrew Doobay (UCF), 3:34
lost to Rashad Cunningham (COK), 7-5
lost to Ezelle Parks (DAR), 5-2
149: Tyler Marinelli (4-1) | 2nd Place
def. Ribyan McLain (UNCP), 17-0, tech fall (4:09)
def. Calen King (TMC), 10-1 (major dec.)
def. Frank Yattoni (KIN), 8-6
def. Chandler Pyke (NCS), 8-1
lost to Kevin Jack (NCS), 4-1
157: Joseph Evans (2-2)
lost to Reggie Allen (UNCP), 4-3
def. Andrew Lock (CID), 5-4
def. McKinnis Spadoni (ODU), 7-2
lost to Isaiah Bradley (LIM), 6-4
157: Drew Chappell (0-2)
pinned by McKinnis Spadoni (ODU), 4:35
lost to Zachri Nelson (LIM) – Medical forfeit
165: Christian Marioni (2-2)
lost to Joe Remarklus (UNCP), 4-3
def. Seth Broome (SHO), 19-1, tech fall (4:31)
def. Austin Bailey (UCF), 18-1, tech fall (3:18)
lost to Delanno Palmore (UNA), 5-4
174: Payton Mills (3-2)
def. Antoine Hammond (SMC), 10-3
def. Matthew Farmer (LIM), 6-3
lost to Zach Dicus (COK), 6-5
def. Alex Walker (LIF), 12-2 (major dec.)
lost to Joey Balboni (ODU), 18-5 (major dec.)
174: Andy Bennett (3-2)
def. Grant Chaistain (LIF), 7-2
def. Nnamdi Onyekwuluje (MER), 10-1 (major dec.)
def. Trever Wentt (KIN), 2-1
pinned by Ridge White (UNCP), 3:22
lost to Joey Balboni (ODU), 22-7, tech fall (5:30)
197: Zach Bennett (4-2)
pinned Tyler Phillips (UCF), 1:09
def. Daniel Witmore (SMC), 11-2 (major dec.)
lost to Nate Knauf (CAU), 4-1
def. Derrick Maisonet (NCS), 5-2
def. Noah Fleckenstein (CID), 9-4)
lost to Vincent Jiovenetta (UCF), 6-1
197: Terry Henderson (2-2)
pinned Matt Allen (BWC), 1:29
def. Jacob Leighton (SMC), 4-2
lost to Eldon Valery (KIN), 4-0
pinned by Jacob Allen (LIM), 1:30
HVY: Jackson Price (0-2)
lost to Chandler Sambets (CID), 3-2
lost to Tommie Turner (DAR), 5-1
HVY: Drew Barrett (2-2)
pinned Angel Perez (UCF), 2:50
lost to Alex Green (COK), 11-5
def. Paul Kotler (UNA), 3-1
lost to Tommie Turner (DAR), 5-4
HVY: Tristan Majors (0-2)
pinned by Jordan Watkins (CAU), 4:05
pinned by Danny Berrier (UNCP), 1:55
