EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Gardner-Webb rolled to a key Southern Conference victory Sunday morning, topping SIU-Edwardsville, 31-13 on the road, but fell to Big Ten foe Indiana, 28-9, in the nightcap.
The Runnin' Bulldogs started strong against SIU-Edwardsville, getting a pin from heavyweight Justin Kozera in the first match. Kozera dumped Chris Johnson in just 2:14 for his eighth pin of the season.
The two teams traded matches at the lower weights, with SIU-E taking a forfeit win at 125 pounds (illness). Tyler Ziegler slipped past Dakota Leach for a 3-1 decision at 133 pounds and – after an Edwardsville win at 141, Ryan Mosley continued his excellent season at 149 pounds with a 16-5 major decision over Karsten Van Velsor.
Austin Trott widened Gardner-Webb's lead with his 10th pin of the season at 165, taking down Connor McMahon in 2:28. Trott remains among the NCAA leaders in pin falls this season.
Brett Stein and Hunter Gamble each picked up key wins at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively, and Boyce Cornwell capped the win in style – dropping Jake Tindle in 3:54 for his second pin of the season at 197 pounds.
Ziegler picked up a 2-1 win to spark a three-match surge for Gardner-Webb against Indiana, with Ryan Hull (9-5) and Mosley (5-1) also taking victories at 141 and 149 pounds. Mosley moved to 25-8 with his second win of the day.
The Hoosiers picked up a pair of pins in the next two weight classes, however, with NCAA 6th-ranked Taylor Walsh dropping Trott at 165 pounds (1:57). Nationally-ranked Nathan Jackson picked up a 15-4 major decision over Stein at 174 pounds and the Hoosiers also won at 184 and 197 pounds.
Gardner-Webb returns home to close out the regular season next Sunday, hosting Ohio and Cleveland State in Paul Porter Arena (February 22). GWU will take on Ohio at 12:30 pm and will host CSU at 2:00 pm.
TEAM SCORE: Gardner-Webb 31, SIU-Edwardsville 13
125: Nathan Day (SIUE) win by forfeit
133: Tyler Ziegler (GWU) dec. Dakota Leach (SIUE), 3-1
141: Angelo Silvestro (SIUE) dec. Ryan Hull (GWU), 10-4
149: Ryan Mosley (GWU) major dec. Karsten Van Velsor (SIUE), 16-5
157: Clayton Bass (SIUE) major dec. Joseph Evans (GWU), 13-0
165: Austin Trott (GWU) pinned Connor McMahon (SIUE), 2:28
174: Brett Stein (GWU) dec. Jake Residori (SIUE), 7-3
184: Hunter Gamble (GWU) dec. Derek Nagel (SIUE), 10-5
197: Boyce Cornwell (GWU) pinned Jake Tindle (SIUE), 3:54
285: Justin Kozera (GWU) pinned Chris Johnson (SIUE), 2:14
TEAM SCORE: Indiana 28, Gardner-Webb 9
125: Double forfeit
133: Tyler Ziegler (GWU) dec. Alonzo Shepherd (IU), 2-1
141: Ryan Hull (GWU) dec. Sean Brown (IU), 9-5
149: Ryan Mosley (GWU) dec. Trevor Moody (IU), 5-1
157: Luke Blanton (IU) pinned Joseph Evans (GWU), 1:57
165: #6 Taylor Walsh (IU) pinned Austin Trott (GWU), 1:57
174: Nathan Jackson (IU) major dec. Brett Stein (GWU), 15-4
184: Matt Irick (IU) dec. Gray Jones (GWU), 10-3
197: Luke Sheridan (IU) pinned Boyce Cornwell (GWU), 1:28
285: Garret Goldman (IU) dec. Justin Kozera (GWU), 5-2
