BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb moved into a three-way for first place in the SoCon standings Friday night with a dominant, 28-12, win over The Citadel.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (7-5, 5-1 SoCon) improved to 4-0 in Paul Porter Arena with the win – which was the program's first over The Citadel since December 2, 2000 and fourth win in the series since 1988. The win also set a new single-season mark for Southern Conference wins for Gardner-Webb.

With Appalachian State's win over Chattanooga Friday night, GWU pulled into a three-way tie for first place with one match remaining – a home date with Davidson on Wednesday night (Feb. 10) at 7:00 pm.

On senior night in Paul Porter Arena, the match started in fine fashion for fourth-year standouts Cortez Starkes (125) and Tyler Ziegler (133). Starkes rolled to a dominant, 14-2, major decision in the opening bout and Ziegler built momentum throughout the first period before pinning Caleb Smith in 2:50 for an early 10-0 GWU lead.

The Citadel (4-8, 1-4 SoCon) sandwiched a pair of decisions around a Chris Vassar win at 149 – then Austin Trott seized momentum back quickly at 165 pounds. Trott, an NCAA qualifier in 2014, took Daniel Smith to the mat in 2:25 for a 19-6 Gardner-Webb lead with four matches remaining.

Brett Stein and Hunter Gamble followed with decisions at 174 and 184, respectively, with Gamble improving to 6-0 against league foes with his victory. Marshall Haas pin at 197 provided The Citadel's last team points of the night, as Boyce Cornwell wrestled his way to a 5-2 decision at 285 for the final margin.

Cornwell and Ziegler each improved 10-2 in dual competition this season.

Gardner-Webb will close out its Southern Conference slate by hosting Davidson at 7:00 pm in Paul Porter Arena. GWU will then host Cleveland State and Ohio on February 13 (12:00 / 2:00).

TEAM SCORE: Gardner-Webb 28, The Citadel 12
125 – Cortez Starkes (GWU) major dec. Charles Kearney (CIT) – (14-2) – 4-0
133 – Tyler Ziegler (GWU) pinned Caleb Smith (CIT) – (2:50) – 10-0
141 – Ty Buckiso (CIT) dec. Ryan Hull (GWU) – 5-3 – 10-3
149 – Chris Vassar (GWU) dec. Matt Frisch (CIT) – 4-1 – 13-3
157 – Aaron Walker (CIT) dec. Ryan Mosley (GWU) – 1-0 – 13-6
165 – Austin Trott (GWU) pinned Daniel Smith (CIT) – (2:25) – 19-6
174 – Brett Stein (GWU) dec. Tim Knipl (CIT) –  8-6 – 22-6
184 – Hunter Gamble (GWU) dec. Sawyer Root (CIT) – 6-2 – 25-6
197 – Marshall Haas (CIT) pinned Gray Jones (GWU) – (3:24) – 25-12
285 – Boyce Cornwell (GWU) dec. Joe Bexley (CIT) – 5-2 – 28-12