BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb wrapped up its regular season dual schedule with a split Saturday afternoon, whipping Cleveland State 29-9 before falling in a tightly-contested 22-13 match with #22 Ohio in Paul Porter Arena.
Ohio (12-3) topped Cleveland State by a 31-11 score in the morning match.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (9-6) added to its program single-season mark for dual wins with its victory of Cleveland State (7-7). It was GWU's first win over the Vikings in the two programs' second meeting.
Against Cleveland State, #33 Cortez Starkes and Tyler Ziegler got things rolling with a pair of decisions before the Vikings' Mike Carlone rallied with a decision at 141 pounds to stem the tide.
The Runnin' Bulldogs took control from there, getting back-to-back major decisions from #32 Chris Vassar (12-2) and Ryan Mosley (13-4) for a 14-3 team lead. Austin Trott – who won the 2014 Cleveland State Open at 165 pounds – made quick work of Chas Busz on Saturday, recording a pin in just 40 seconds to put Gardner-Webb in front 20-3.
Brett Stein followed with a 16-5 major decision at 174 pounds, thoroughly dominating his bout from the early stages. #33 Hunter Gamble recorded a technical fall at 184 pounds, blanking Justin Worthington 16-0 in 6:32. That pushed the 'Dogs in front 29-3 with two bouts remaining.
The Vikings' Sam Wheeler, ranked #31 nationally and coming off a morning win over Ohio's #12 Phil Wellington, found the going tough early against Gray Jones at 197 pounds – but recorded a takedown in the final minute for a 6-4 decision.
Heavyweight Riley Shaw, ranked #17 nationally, took a 10-3 decision over #33 Boyce Cornwell in the final weight class.
#22 Ohio 22, Gardner-Webb 13
#33 Cortez Starkes faced off with #28 Shakur Laney in first weight class of Saturday's finale and the two battled until the final horn – with Laney escaping with a 4-3 decision.
Tyler Ziegler posted a 5-1 decision over Zak Hassan at 133 pounds to even the team score, but the Bobcats picked up a key bonus point with a major decision by Noah Forrider at 141 pounds.
#32 Chris Vassar completed his afternoon with a second victory, scoring a takedown in the first overtime period for a 3-1 win over Cullen Cummings – cutting Ohio's lead to 7-6.
Ryan Mosley was up to the challenge against #24 Spartak Chino at 157 pounds, but fell in another nail biter – 4-3 – and nearly pulled the upset with a near takedown in the final seconds. The call stood after a brief video review, giving the Bobcats a 10-6 edge.
Austin Trott pulled a mild upset at 165 pounds, moving to 4-2 against opponents currently ranked in the NCAA Coaches' top-33. He recorded a near fall in the late stages to break a scoreless tie against #24 Austin Reese, and held riding time for a 5-0 decision – trimming Ohio's lead to one point (10-9).
#26 Andrew Romanchik collected a 5-0 decision over #33 Hunter Gamble in a pivotal match at 184 pounds, scoring a reversal to get his scoring underway after a well contested early battle. Gamble would not be able to get on the board, with a late takedown and riding time providing the final margin.
Phil Wellington, ranked 12th nationally, sealed the match with a pin of Gray Jones in 2:16. Boyce Cornwell rebounded from his earlier loss with a major decision over Jesse Webb – controlling the match from start to finish for an 8-0 score.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will now begin preparations for the 2016 Southern Conference Tournament, which will be held on Saturday, March 5, in Asheville, N.C. (Kimmel Arena).
GARDNER-WEBB DUAL RESULTS
TEAM SCORE: #22 Ohio 31, Cleveland State 11
125: #28 Shakur Laney (OU) fall Nick Derosa (CSU); (2:27) – 6-0
133: Evan Cheek (CSU) dec. Zak Hassan (OU); 8-2 – 6-3
141: Noah Forrider (OU) dec. Mike Carlone (CSU); 11-7 – 9-3
149: Cullen Cummings (OU) dec. Nick Montgomery (CSU); 5-4 – 12-3
157: #24 Spartak Chino (OU) tech. fall John Vaughn (CSU); 20-5 (5:27) – 17-3
165: #24 Austin Reese (OU) major dec. Nathan Wynkoop (CSU); 13-0 – 21-3
174: #10 Cody Walters (OU) win via forfeit – 27-3
184: #26 Andrew Romanchik (OU) major dec. Jacob Worthington (CSU); 14-1 – 31-3
197: #31 Sam Wheeler dec. #12 Phil Wellington, 6-4 (SV-1) – 31-6
285: #17 Riley Shaw (CSU) tech. fall Jesse Webb (OU); 17-1 (5:38) – 31-11
TEAM SCORE: Gardner-Webb 29, Cleveland State 9
125: #33 Cortez Starkes (GWU) vs. John Martin (CSU); 6-3 – 3-0
133: Tyler Ziegler (GWU) dec. Evan Cheek (CSU); 3-1 (SV-1) – 6-0
141: Mike Carlone (CSU) dec. Ryan Hull (GWU); 10-3 – 6-3
149: #32 Chris Vassar (GWU) major dec. Nick Montgomery (CSU); 12-2 – 10-3
157: Ryan Mosley (GWU) major dec. John Vaughn (CSU); 13-4 – 14-3
165: Austin Trott (GWU) fall Chas Busz (CSU); (0:40) – 20-3
174: Brett Stein (GWU) major dec. Nathan Wynkoop (CSU); 16-5 – 24-3
184: #33 Hunter Gamble (GWU) tech. fall. Justin Worthington (CSU); 16-0 (6:32) – 29-3
197: #31 Sam Wheeler (CSU) dec. Gray Jones (GWU); 6-4 – 29-6
285: #17 Riley Shaw (CSU) dec. #33 Boyce Cornwell (GWU); 10-3 – 29-9
TEAM SCORE: #22 Ohio 22, Gardner-Webb 13
125: #28 Shakur Laney (OU) dec. #33 Cortez Starkes (GWU); 4-3 – 0-3
133: Tyler Ziegler (GWU) Zak Hassan (OU); 5-1 – 3-3
141: Noah Forrider (OU) major dec. Ryan Hull (GWU); 15-5 – 3-7
149: #32 Chris Vassar (GWU) vs. Cullen Cummings (OU); 3-1 (SV-1) – 6-7
157: #24 Spartak Chino (OU) dec. Ryan Mosley (GWU); 4-3 – 6-10
165: Austin Trott (GWU) dec. #24 Austin Reese (OU); 5-0 – 9-10
174: #10 Cody Walters (OU) dec. Brett Stein (GWU); 6-3 – 9-13
184: #26 Andrew Romanchik dec. #33 Hunter Gamble (GWU); 5-0 – 9-16
197: #12 Phil Wellington (OU) fall Gray Jones (GWU); (2:16) – 9-22
285: #33 Boyce Cornwell (GWU) major dec. Jesse Webb (OU); 8-0 – 13-22
